Nelson keeper-batter KATE GAGING is the new name on the list of contracted Hinds for 2021/22, announced today by Central Districts Cricket.

Twenty-year-old Gaging made her Central Hinds debuts in both the national T20 and one-day competitions earlier this year, joining the list of nine Domestic contract players for the first time. 

Noted Central Hinds Head Coach Jamie Watkins, “When Kate came in last season as a batter, she took her opportunity with both hands and became a regular first-choice player.

“We’ve since lost an experienced batter in ANLO VAN DEVENTER [who has moved to Australia for work] so we see the potential for Kate to really step up for us this season in that role, and she also provides excellent wicketkeeping back-up to NATALIE DODD.”

 

 

 

 

Watkins said Gaging showed her mettle in the Central Hinds’ away Dream11 Super Smash clash with eventual champions, the Canterbury Magicians, in January.

“It was only her second game for us and she went out there in front of a crowd of about 7000 people pouring in for the first game under lights at Hagley Oval.

“It was the first time Kate had played in front of a big crowd like that, and she was batting in a situation in which we were under quite a bit of pressure as a team.

Kate Gaging hit a pressure 28 in just her second T20 appearance | MBUTCHER

"Luck was just not on our side. HANNAH ROWE had had the misfortune to drop her bat and be run out, then later MELISSA HANSEN suffered an injury to her hand. Kate came in when we were five down and kept calm through it all, playing with such composure to keep the runs coming and top-scoring for the team.

"She’s someone who has impressed through age-group cricket for some time, and I think she has great potential.”

 

Kate Gaging player profile

NZC introduced women’s Domestic contracts two seasons ago under the Women’s Master Agreement. Nine players from each Major Association are provided with financial support to compensate them for time spent preparing and playing the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Super Smash competitions over summer.

“Along with our three NZC-contracted players this year, a total of 12 Central Hinds now sit in the contracted environment,” Watkins noted, “with HANNAH ROWE and ROSEMARY MAIR re-contracted to the WHITE FERNS and CLAUDIA GREEN moving up to an NZC Development contract for the first time this year.”

“That’s down from 13 last season, as both JESS WATKIN and NATALIE DODD have meanwhile come back onto the contracted Hinds list from NZC.

"It’s pleasing for us to have a consistent overall group of players, but it is obviously unfortunate for ASHTUTI KUMAR who has missed out on the contracted list this season as a result.

“We certainly still see Ashtuti as a valuable member of our squad as she continues to advance her game. She turned in exciting performances with the ball particularly against the Auckland Hearts and Northern Districts last season, and I would anticipate that she will get plenty of playing opportunities again this summer.”

 

PHOTOSPORT

 

 

The Central Hinds begin their 2021/22 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield campaign in just over a fortnight’s time, on the weekend of 30 and 31 October — hosting the Otago Sparks in back-to-back one-dayers at Saxton Oval, the first time the Hinds and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield cricket will have come to Nelson.

The team will also feature in doubleheaders with the Central Stags at every Dream11 Super Smash game this summer, that schedule yet to be unveiled by NZC.

Admission to all Central Hinds Hallyburton Johnstone Shield matches is free to the public.

 

 

2021/22 WHITE FERNS Contracts

 

ROSEMARY Mair — Hawke’s Bay

HANNAH Rowe — Manawatū

 

 

2021/22 NZC DEVELOPMENT Contract

CLAUDIA Green — Nelson

 

 

 

2021/22 CDCA CENTRAL HINDS Contracts

GEORGIA Atkinson — Manawatū

EMILY Cunningham — Taranaki

NATALIE Dodd — Taranaki

KATE Gaging — Nelson

MIKAELA Greig — Manawatū

MELISSA Hansen — Wairarapa

MONIQUE Rees — Wairarapa

KERRY Tomlinson — Hawke’s Bay

JESS Watkin — Manawatū

 

Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Schedule

 

Official hashtags: #CentralHinds #HBJShield #SuperSmashNZ

Article added: Monday 11 October 2021