NZC adds three new names to White Ferns’ central contract for 2026-27 season

New Zealand Cricket has added Flora Devonshire, Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp to their 17-player women’s central contract list for the 2026-27 season.

The trio replaces the outgoing experienced trio of Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Lauren Down. Bates and Tahuhu are set to retire after the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with Down having already called time earlier this year. Sophie Devine is also set to retire after the World Cup, along with Bates and Tahuhu, but has been on a casual playing contract since the previous year.

Left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Devonshire made her international debut in March 2025 and has been a regular feature since, making two World Cup squads. Patel had previously received a White Ferns central contract in 2022-23. The off-spin-bowling all-rounder has had an encouraging start to her international career, having picked up nine wickets in six T20Is since her debut in February of this year.

Sharp led the White Ferns at the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023 while on her first domestic contract with Canterbury. The hard-hitting right-handed batter has been a key member of the Canterbury Magicians line-up, scoring 245 runs in 10 innings, averaging 30 and striking at 128 during the 2025-26 Super Smash season.

“Flora’s a clean striker with lots of power. Being left-handed she offers a point of difference as she’s able to hit to different areas of the field, and there’s the added bonus of her left-arm orthodox bowling. Nensi’s consistently accurate with the ball, and she has great control over her length and pace,” Ben Sawyer, New Zealand head coach, said in an official statement as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

“Izzy’s batting has been building from strength to strength. She possesses similar qualities to Sophie [Devine] and with Soph stepping away from international cricket soon, it’s really exciting to bring someone with Izzy’s power onto a central contract so we can keep working with her to develop those skills,” he added.

The trio joins a highly experienced core of players, led by captain Melie Kerr and featuring regulars such as Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair and Georgia Plimmer. Left-arm spinner Fran Jonas retains her contract after featuring for New Zealand A on their tour of Sri Lanka in May.

New Zealand Women’s Central Contract list for 2026-27 season:

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, Izzy Sharp