White Ferns all-rounder Suzie Bates has pulled out of the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) over fears of the ability to secure space in Managed Isolation Quarantine (MIQ).
Bates, 34, is currently with the Whtie Ferns in England, where the New Zealand women's side recently fell to their hosts 2-1 in their Twenty20 international series and 4-1 in the one-day internationals.
The all-rounder was supposed to continue to Australia to prepare for the WBBL season, which starts October 14, but the lack of available places means Bates has to head home with the rest of the White Ferns to avoid being stranded across the Tasman once the season finishes in late November.
"At the time I had to make the decision, I had a spot booked by New Zealand Cricket to get me back into New Zealand," Bates told AAP.
"If I gave this up to fly straight to Australia there was [a] high chance of being stranded post the Big Bash.
"This was not a risk I was willing to take given what the White Ferns have coming up this summer, including a home World Cup."
Fellow White Ferns star Sophie Devine has given no word on whether she'll turn out for Perth Scorchers in the WBBL, having been named as the player of the tournament for the last two seasons.
All-rounder Amelia Kerr has also withdrawn from the WBBL, albeit to focus on her mental health after also opting out of the tour of England.
Bates is one of a number of Kiwis abroad battling to secure space in MIQ, with a number of fellow athletes also facing the reality of being trapped overseas.
