Wellington, 12 June (H.S.): New Zealand Cricket on Friday announced the 17-player central contract list for the 2026-27 season, with Flora Devonshire, Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp receiving central contracts for the first time.

The trio have been brought into the contracted group as experienced players Suzie Bates, Lauren Down and Lea Tahuhu make way. Meanwhile, Sophie Devine has also been left out of this year’s contract list.

Lauren Down has retired from international cricket, while Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Sophie Devine are expected to bring their international careers to a close following the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup.

Both Flora Devonshire and Izzy Sharp were developed through New Zealand Cricket’s “Central Players of Interest” programme, an initiative designed to fast-track emerging talent to the international stage.

Left-handed batting all-rounder Flora Devonshire, who represents Central Districts, made her international debut in March 2025. Since then, she has earned selection in two World Cup squads, underlining her rapid rise within the national setup.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Nensi Patel returns to the central contract list after previously holding a contract during the 2022-23 season. Patel, who made her international debut in February, has enjoyed an impressive start to her T20 International career, claiming 14 wickets. During preparations for the Women’s T20 World Cup, she also produced a standout performance against Bangladesh in a warm-up match, taking four wickets for 18 runs.

Aggressive batter Izzy Sharp, from Timaru, captained New Zealand at the inaugural ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023. She was her side’s leading run-scorer during the 2025-26 Super Smash season, averaging 30 while maintaining a strike rate of 128.

Head coach Ben Sawyer praised the new additions, saying Devonshire possesses power and versatility with the bat, Patel brings exceptional discipline to the bowling attack, and Sharp has the potential to develop into a player capable of fulfilling a role similar to that performed by Sophie Devine.

New Zealand Women’s Central Contracts List (2026-27):

Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe and Izzy Sharp.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar