Central Hinds captain 𝐌𝐈𝐊𝐀𝐄𝐋𝐀 FRANKS (née Greig) is hanging up her cricket bat and cap. 

An allrounder regarded as one of the most powerful six-hitters and best slip fielders in the women's game nationally, Franks retires after a loyal career that spanned 12 years with her beloved Hinds, and saw a winner's medal draped around her neck after the team famously dominated the 2029 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Final at Pukekura Park.

The past season saw Franks step up to captain the Hinds for the first time, and came on the back of a memorable year in which she has also been picked for the North Island squad in the North v South series for the first time, putting her hand up for a maiden national selection in the New Zealand A v England A home T20 series that followed.

Franks ended up captaining New Zealand A as well, and crafted at equal one-day career best score of 84 in the final match to ensure New Zealand A won the series against the strong England A side 2-1.

It was the same week that another long-held dream came to fruition, called up to represent the WHITE FERNS in Dunedin against the full England side - where she was sadly run out by her partner, without scoring, in what turned out to be her only T20 International appearance.

The Manawatū legend was selected to go on the WHITE FERNS' subsequent return tour to England that winter, but played only in one tour match, against the England Development XI, where she was again run out.

Franks closes the book on a career that saw her play 85 one-dayers and 93 T20s for the Hinds; and score 1,153 one-day runs and 867 T20 runs overall in her career, along with 49 and 23 wickets respectively.

Taking a moment from sorting sheep on the farm, Franks said it had been an "absolute privilege" to represent the Hinds for the past dozen years since her December 2013 debut as a young allrounder at Melville Park, while she was still representing CD U21. 

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me, throughout my career. 

"I have made so many friendships in this time and the bonds and experiences that we shared together - those are the moments that I am always going to remember.

"It really has been such a privilege to be part of this team, and I am looking forward to fangirling the Hinds from the sideline next season."

MIKAELA FRANKS (née GREIG)
 

List A One-Day Cricket Career

CENTRAL HINDS:

Debut: 18 January 2014 v Canterbury Magicians at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North

Last match: 22 February 2025 v Otago Sparks at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

85 matches, 63 innings, 958 runs, HS 84 not out, 5 x 50, average 16.80, 36 catches

Captaincy: 2024/25

NEW ZEALAND A (2024):

3 matches, 144 runs, HS 84, 1 x 50, average 48.00, 2 catches

NETHERLANDS (2015):

3 matches, 57 runs, HS 47, average 17.00, 2 catches

T20 cricket

CENTRAL HINDS:

Debut: 6 December 2013 v Auckland Hearts at Melville Park, Auckland

Last match: 29 January 2025 v Auckland Hearts at McLean Park, Napier

78 matches, 670 runs, HS 39 not out, average 21.00, 21 catches

Captaincy: 2024/25

NEW ZEALAND A (2023/24):

2 matches, 27 runs, HS 24, average 48.00, 2 catches

Captaincy: (2023/24)

NETHERLANDS (2015):

8 matches, 86 runs, HS 22 average 13.50, 1 catch

NORTH ISLAND (North v South T20 Series):

Debut: 1 March 2024 at McLean Park, Napier

Last match: 3 March 2024 at McLean Park, Napier

3 matches, 84 runs, HS 40, average 42.00, 1 catch

WHITE FERNS

T20i, 19 March 2024 at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin: 1 match, 0 runs (run out), 0 catches

Tour match v England Women Development XI: 1 match, 3 runs (run out), 1 catch

CENTRAL DISTRICTS UNDER 21

2011/12 to 2015/16

CENTRAL DISTRICTS A

2024/25

Article added: Friday 11 April 2025