New Zealand women's national team contracts - Natalie Dodd resigns from Central Hinds' list

Some New Zealand provinces have announced their first round of contracted players. Here’s a look at all the latest news ahead of the upcoming season.

Central Hinds captain Natalie Dodd has withdrawn from the annual national contract process for the upcoming season as she is expecting her first child later this year. Dodd, a top-order batswoman and wicketkeeper, was Hinds Player of the Year in 2021 and 2023 and has been a key cog in the team since joining Central Districts from Northern Districts in 2018. Under her leadership, Hinds won the 2018/19 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, New Zealand’s premier domestic women’s one-day tournament, with Dodd finishing as the competition’s leading run-getter.

They are coming off a good 2023-24 season, with Hinds making the Super Smash final in the summer and finishing in the midfield in a weather-affected one-day season.

“As a team and as a club, we are of course first and foremost happy for Natalie and her husband during this special time in their lives,” said Dave Meiring, Central Districts’ High Performance Manager. “We fully support Natalie’s decision to focus on family this summer. This is an opportunity for others to put everything they have learned from her into practice on the field.”

“She will not retire, but at the moment several players will take on their usual roles.”

Seam bowler Anna Gaging will join her identical twin sister Kate Gaging after earning a contract at Central Hinds for the first time. Like her sister, 23-year-old Anna made her debut as a teenager in the 2020-21 season and now has five caps across the two formats Hinds plays, taking her first four-wicket haul against Northern Districts in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield earlier this year.

Anna is the only new name on the initial list of 12 players under contract for the 2024-25 season, with a name set to be added later this month to fill the 13th and final spot in the group.

The captain has not yet been announced, but of the players named, New Zealand international Hannah Rowe is the current team leader.

Contract player: Aniela Apperley, Georgia Atkinson, Ocean Bartlett, Flora Devonshire, Anna Gaging, Kate Gaging, Claudia Green, Mikaela Greig, Ashtuti Kumar, Emma McLeod, Thamsyn Newton, Kerry Tomlinson NZC contracts: Rosemary Mair, Hannah Rowe

All-rounder Kate Anderson has been reinstated on the national list for Canterbury after failing to secure a central contract with NZC for 2024-25. Spin bowling all-rounder Harriet Graham earned her first national contract after being part of the extended squad for the past few seasons, despite only playing three games in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield last season.

“We are committed to developing our young talent and ensuring they have the support and guidance they need to succeed at this level,” said head coach Rhys Morgan. “The experience of our senior players will be invaluable in helping our younger players grow and contribute to the team’s success.”

Contract player: Kate Anderson, Sarah Asmussen, Missy Banks, Natalie Cox, Jodie Dean, Harriet Graham, Abigail Hotton, Laura Hughes, Frankie Mackay, Izzy Sharp, Jess Simmons, Gabby Sullivan

New Zealand women’s national team contracts – Natalie Dodd resigns from Central Hinds’ list

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