New Zealand cricket news – Lauren Down back among centrally-contracted players; Polly Inglis given first offer
Batter Lauren Down returned to New Zealand Women’s contract list after being named in the 17-member group which was offered central contracts for 2024-25. Down had declined the contract offer last season after being on a maternity break, but was named in the ODI squad to tour England later this month.
Down, who has played 28 ODIs and 13 T20Is, last represented New Zealand in an ODI against Bangladesh in December 2022.
Also named in the contract list was wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis, who received the offer for the first time. Inglis got 103 runs for New Zealand A in three one-dayers against England A at home in March, as the hosts won the series 2-1. Just before that, she hit 324 runs, the second-most, in the NZC Women’s One Day Competition, which is New Zealand’s domestic 50-over tournament for women.
New Zealand Women’s head coach Ben Sawyer said: “We’ve landed on a strong list of 17 names that we think are going to play an important part over the next 12 months… A big part of the selection process this year was looking at who could take part in the 2025 ODI World Cup.”
Among centrally-contracted players from 2023-24, wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has retired from international cricket, while batter Kate Anderson wasn’t given an offer. The 2024-25 contracting period begins August 1, with the players having until June 17 to accept their offer.
New Zealand Women central contract offers for 2024-25
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 and Lea Tahuhu
