The White Ferns will be relying heavily on the experience of veterans Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, who are set to play in their ninth women's T20 Cricket World Cup.

The duo have been named in a 15-strong New Zealand squad to compete in the tournament which gets under way in the United Arab Emirates next month.

Devine, 35, who will step down as T20 captain at the conclusion tournament and Bates, 37, have played in every edition of the tournament since its inception in 2009.

Between them, the pair have played over 300 T20 international - Devine having chalked up 135 games and Bates 162.

"The T20 World Cup's been an important vehicle in the development and growth of the women's game and it's a real privilege to think I've played in it since it started," Devine said.

Allrounder Amelia Kerr is the other integral member of the White Ferns set-up having played 76 T20 internationals.

Wicket-keeper batter Izzy Gaze is the only squad member not to have played at a T20 World Cup, while pace-bowler Rosemary Mair returns to the side having recovered from a back injury she suffered in the T20 series against England in March, and which ruled her out of the England tour in June-July.

Coach Ben Sawyer said Mair had worked extremely hard to make her way back into the squad.

"Rosemary's had an unfortunate run with injury over the past few months and she's worked hard to be fit for this tournament. She's proved herself as one of our key pace options and we're excited she's returning."

The White Ferns have had a horror run of T20 results this year, having lost all but one of the 10 internationals they have played - all of which have been against England.

They will have a three-match series against Australia in Mackay and Brisbane starting on Thursday week before heading to the UAE for two warm-up matches against South Africa and England ahead of their first group match against India on October 4.

White Ferns T20 World Cup Squad

Sophie Devine (C) Wellington Blaze, Suzie Bates Otago Sparks, Eden Carson Otago Sparks, Izzy Gaze Auckland Hearts, Maddy Green Auckland Hearts, Brooke Halliday Auckland Hearts, Fran Jonas Auckland Hearts, Leigh Kasperek Wellington Blaze, Jess Kerr Wellington Blaze, Melie Kerr Wellington Blaze, Rosemary Mair Central Hinds, Molly Penfold Auckland Hearts, Georgia Plimmer Wellington Blaze, Hannah Rowe Central Hinds, Lea Tahuhu Canterbury Magicians.

White Ferns tour to Australia

1st T20I - Thursday 19 September 9.10pm - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 2nd T20I - Sunday 22 September 9.10pm - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 3rd T20I - Tuesday 24 September 9.10pm - Allan Border Field, Brisbane

White Ferns T20 World Cup schedule

Warm-up matches: v South Africa - Monday 30 September 3am - Dubai, v England - Wednedsay 2 October 3am - Dubai.

Group matches: v India - Saturday 5 October 3am - Dubai, v Australia - Wednesday 9 October 3am - Sharjah, v Sri Lanka - Saturday 12 October 11pm - Sharjah, v Pakistan - Tuesday 14 October 3am - Dubai.