There’s a new face on the CENTRAL HINDS contracts list as Central Districts Cricket announces the majority of new season player signings today.

Manawatū pace bowler Jess Ogden is no stranger to the team, having made her respective Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Dream11 Super Smash debuts for the team in 2022 and 2025.

Ogden made an instant impression in the latter format earlier this year, taking 3/19 on debut against the Canterbury Magicians in Napier — setting up the Hinds’ only T20 win of the campaign last season.

The 23-year-old right-armer from Palmerston North now gets an opportunity to build on those promising beginnings, adding pace depth behind Rosemary Mair and Hannah Rowe, particularly when the WHITE FERNS pair is on international duty.

Hinds-contracted players are supported by CD Cricket’s comprehensive high performance training programme and support staff from early October until the end of the women's Domestic summer. 

“We’re really pleased to provide an opportunity for Jess,” said CD Cricket high performance manager, Dave Meiring.

“She’s been a consistent performer for the Hinds whenever she’s had an opportunity in the last few seasons, and will no doubt have more opportunity now, as a contracted player.

“Jess really impressed us last season, particularly when she came into that Super Smash game and performed really well in a high-pressure situation.

“A lot of commitment goes into being ready for those big moments and it’s pleasing to see her now moving up the ranks.”

WELCOME BACK, CATE

While Ogden is the only first-time name on the initial list (with one player to be added in the coming weeks), she is one of several changes to last year's contracted Hinds group.

Back in green: Cate Pedersen returns | PHOTOSPORT

 

The Hinds have lost senior players Mikaela Greig and Thamsyn Newton to retirement since the end of last season, but regain Cate Pedersen from Auckland.

Twenty-three-year-old Pedersen comes back to the Hinds and Hawke’s Bay after a two-summer stint with the Auckland Hearts while she was away studying in the big smoke to become a dietitian. 

Pedersen has already debuted for Central in both formats, stepping up as a promising youngster in the 2021/22 season and gaining her maiden contract with the Hinds the following summer.

She was contracted by the Hearts last season and her timely return bolsters the batting ranks, especially as the Hinds remain without their 2023/24 captain, keeper and run machine, Natalie Dodd.

Natalie Dodd | PHOTOSPORT

 

Dodd took the 2024/25 season off following the birth of her first child. She had hoped to return for 2025/26, but a subsequent injury has now put those plans on ice. 

Senior players Greig (last season's captain), Newton and Dodd brought some 700 matches of representative experience to the Hinds, and all had international caps as well.

The 2025/26 contracted squad is youthful, and will lean on the experience of off-spinning batter Georgia Atkinson, swing star Claudia Green and veteran batter Kerry Tomlinson  — who is set to chalk up her 20th year of Domestic cricket; as well as the NZC-contracted Mair and Rowe whenever they're available.

One of that quintet is likely to captain the team this season to follow in the footsteps of Dodd and Greig, respectively, over the past two seasons — with the Hinds captaincy to be confirmed at a later date.

A younger face missing from the 2024/25 contracted group is Nelson pace bowler and Mike Shrimpton Player of the Year Anna Gaging who last season received her maiden contract with the Central Hinds.

Gaging has decided not to make herself available for a 2025/26 contract, leaving identical twin sister Kate — a wicketkeeper-batter — to fly solo in the contracted squad for this season.

The latter is shifting her base from Nelson to Hawke’s Bay this month in order to make full use of CD’s high performance hub at Mitre 10 Park, Hastings, and to train more regularly with other members of the Hinds.

The exciting season ahead will see Central Districts mark its 75th jubilee as one of the six Major Associations in New Zealand.

The first wave of new season NZC Domestic schedules will be announced this Monday, including the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competition in which the Hinds have traditionally featured strongly.

Last season, the team finished third in the competition, missing the national Final by just two points.

THANK YOU, THAMSYN NEWTON

Allrounder Thamsyn Newton retires after an accomplished career that saw her represent the Wellington Blaze, Canterbury Magicians, Perth Scorchers and WHITE FERNS, as well as the Hinds, over 14 seasons in all.

An exceptional fielder, Newton appeared in four national Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Finals — twice with Canterbury in 2015 and 2017; and twice with the Blaze in 2022 and 2023, winning the title once with each team.

She was also no stranger to Dream11 Super Smash Finals and trophies.

As part of the dominant Blaze era, she won the T20 title several times before repping the Hinds for their appearance in the 2024 low-scoring thriller at Eden Park, fighting to the death against her old teammates.

Newton celebrated 100 Dream11 Super Smash appearances last season | PHOTOSPORT

With her partner living in Hawke's Bay, Newton moved to the Hinds in 2023. The 30-year-old also played for the WHITE FERNS in both formats, gaining 25 caps after having been picked for the international side when she was just 20.

Career highlights include her one-day five-wicket bag for the WHITE FERNS (5/31) against Pakistan in a 2016 win at Saxton Oval. 

The Central Hinds and all the team at Central Districts Cricket thank Newton for her contributions to the team on and off the field over the past two seasons, and we wish Newton all the best in life after cricket.

CONTRACTED PLAYERS

2025/26

Aniela Apperley - Hawke's Bay

Georgia Atkinson - Wairarapa

Ocean Bartlett - Wairarapa

Flora Devonshire - Hawke's Bay

Grace Foreman - Taranaki

Kate Gaging - Nelson

Claudia Green - Nelson

Ashtuti Kumar - Manawatū

Emma McLeod - Wairarapa

Jess Ogden* - Manawatū

Cate Pedersen - Hawke's Bay

Kerry Tomlinson - Hawke's Bay

* One name to be added •

* first-time contract

WHITE FERNS CONTRACTED PLAYERS **

Rosemary Mair - Hawke's Bay

Hannah Rowe - Manawatū

** WHITE FERNS contracted players play for the Hinds when available

©️Margot Butcher | CDCA Content may not be reproduced without permission

Article added: Friday 8 August 2025