Experienced New Zealand fast bowler retires from ODIs

New Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu has announced her retirement from ODI cricket after 15 years with the team.

Since making her ODI debut as a 20-year-old against Australia in Brisbane in 2011, Tahuhu has represented New Zealand in 103 ODIs, with her 125 wickets in the format a record for White Ferns bowlers.

Tahuhu is one of just 12 players to have played more than 100 ODI matches for New Zealand's women's team, and was a member of four ICC Women's Cricket World Cups.

Selected in ICC's Women's ODI Team of the Year in 2023, Tahuhu said now was the time walk away from the 50-over game.

“It’s always been a privilege and honour to pull on the White Ferns shirt in ODI cricket,” she said.

“To get one game was an amazing feeling. To have been able to wear the shirt and represent my country and my family over 100 times in ODI cricket is something I never could have dreamt of.

“I’ll treasure every moment and walk away from the ODI game incredibly proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in the format.”

New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer lauded Tahuhu for her remarkable ODI record.

“Stepping down from a format as your country’s all-time leading wicket-taker is some achievement that Lea should be very proud of,” he said.

“Lea has scaled the heights of the ODI game and has set new bowling standards in the format for the White Ferns.”

Tahuhu will carry on in the T20I format as New Zealand aim to defend their ICC Women's T20 World Cup crown in the UK in June and July this year.

“There’s plenty of exciting things ahead and I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to this team in the T20 format,” she said.

“Winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 was a huge achievement and I’m really motivated to be over in England later this year to help this team defend our title.”