NZ Cricket have announced the White Ferns contract list for the 2024-25 season with a few notable changes.
Following on from being named in New Zealand's ODI squad for the upcoming tour to England, Lauren Down has been offered a central contract. The Auckland Hearts batter has recently returned to duty from the maternity leave that saw her decline last season's offer.
With Northern Brave wicketkeeper Bernadine Bezuidenhout recently announcing her retirement from international cricket, NZC have also offered Otago Sparks' keeper Polly Inglis her first central contract.
An Otago regular since 2012, Inglis received the Fielder of the Year and Players' Player awards for the Sparks' 2023-24 season. The 28-year-old was also Otago's top runscorer (324) while averaging 54 in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
With a focus on next year's ODI World Cup, Inglis' work with the gloves in domestic cricket made her an obvious choice for White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer.
“Polly’s had a great domestic season with both bat and gloves and for that she’s been rewarded with a contract,” Sawyer said.
“Izzy Gaze at the moment is our number one keeper in both formats and she deserves that spot, but we need a backup keeper; we’ve spoken to Polly about that and she’s forced her way into this group.”
Aside from Bezuidenhout, the only other centrally contracted player from the previous season to not receive an offer was Canterbury Magicians batter Kate Anderson.
All players named by NZC have until June 17 to accept their offers with the 2024-25 central contracts coming into affect August 1.
2024-25 White Ferns central contract offers:
Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.