Pair included in New Zealand's women's central contract list

Left-arm fast bowler Bree Illing and batter Bella James have earned their first New Zealand women's central contracts ahead of the home 2025/2026 summer.

The pair enter after the retirement of Hayley Jensen and with Sophie Devine opting for a casual playing contract after she announced she will retire from ODI cricket after the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup later this year.

After a headturning start to her domestic career, swing bowler Illing made her ODI and T20I debuts against Sri Lanka last summer, claiming six wickets across the two series, including star batter Chamari Athapaththu twice across the matches.

James meanwhile continues a long journey into the national setup, having performed in domestic cricket across a 10-year domestic career, and making both T20I and ODI debuts last December against Australia.

New Zealand women's head coach Ben Sawyer was quick to hail the pair.

“Bree had an outstanding series against Sri Lanka,” said Sawyer.

“To show up the way she did against a world class batter like Chamari shows she’s ready for international cricket.

“Bella’s been a consistent performer at the domestic level and had a great debut series against Australia last year.

“She’s got the competencies that we believe will succeed at the international level.”

New Zealand Women Central Contract List

Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu