Batsman Lauren Down is set to return to New Zealand Cricket’s list of contracted women players. She was one of 17 players who were offered a central contract for 2024-25. Down, who turned down the contract offer while on maternity leave last season, has been named in the ODI squad that will tour England later this month.
Down, who has played in 28 ODIs and 13 T20Is, last represented New Zealand in an ODI against Bangladesh in December 2022.
The 2024-2025 contract period begins on August 1, and players must accept offers by June 17.
The contract list also includes wicketkeeper-batsman Polly Inglis, who was offered the first time. Inglis scored 103 for New Zealand A in three one-day matches against England A at home in March, as the home team won the series 2-1. Before that, she had scored 324 runs in the NZC Women’s One-Day Competition (domestic 50-over tournament for women), the second-highest score.
New Zealand women’s team coach Ben Sawyer said: “We have a strong 17-player squad who we believe will play a significant role over the next 12 months… A big part of the selection process this year was looking at who could be involved in the 2025 ODI World Cup.”
Among those on central contract for 2023-24, those who will be excluded are wicketkeeper-batsman Bernadine Bezuidenhout, who has retired from international cricket, and batsman Kate Anderson, who has not been offered a contract.
New Zealand Women’s Central Contract Offer for 2024-25
Susie Bates, Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddie Green, Brooke Holiday, Polly Inglis, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Meyer, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Lowe, Leah Tahuhu
