The first women cricketers to receive NZC’s freshly introduced Development Contracts have been named, and CDCA is delighted that a quarter of the spots have been awarded to Central Hinds players.

CDCA 2019 women’s player of the year NATALIE DODD and JESS WATKIN have both previously represented the WHITE FERNS with the new Development contracts enhancing the pathway towards achieving top honours again.

NZC GM High Performance Bryan Stronach said the ability to grow and develop talent is crucial to the NZC High Performance programme and goes a long way to ensuring long-term success at the top level. 

“We’ve got an opportunity to create a bespoke programme for these players,” Stronach said today. “This particular lot of contracts is for players we have identified as having talent, whom we want to work with and discover more about,” he said. 

The eight players selected will receive financial support and will be required to attend extra camps, with access to additional support in delivering their performance plans.

Natalie Dodd dominated attacks last season | PHOTOSPORT

An opening batsman and elegant timer of the ball, Natalie Dodd produced an outstanding 2018/19 season for the Hinds in which she shattered national domestic one-day batting records in the remarkable game against the Sparks at Fitzherbert Park, and finished as the top Hallyburton Johnstone Shield run-scorer nationally with 652 runs from 11 innings at a brilliant average of 108.66 — including two one-day centuries and two half centuries, five red-inkers (not outs) and a high score of 142, as well as a career aggregate that now tops 3500 one-day runs domestically.

It was the classy right-hander’s first season for the Hinds after transferring from Northern Spirit and, taking up the keeping gloves, she also finished as the country’s runaway top wicketkeeper.

Even before the Grand Final — won by the Hinds, the 26-year-old primary school teacher had already busted Central’s record for most runs in a one-day season. Dodd has played 12 ODIs and six T20is for the WHITE FERNS, last representing New Zealand in March 2018 in a T20i.

Jess Watkin brings a power-packed approach to batting and combined with her accurate off-spinners it saw the Whanganui youngster swept into the WHITE FERNS for the first time at just 19, debuting on the winter tour of Ireland and England in 2018.

Jess was an instant hit with 62 off 59 on WHITE FERNS debut, part of a blazing 172-run opening stand with Suzie Bates that set up the highest ODI total of all time, 491 for four, against an outclassed Irish line-up.

Jess went on to play six ODIs and nine T20is for New Zealand across the tour, scoring a half century in both formats with her unbeaten 77* on T20i debut, and became a contracted WHITE FERN in the same year.

After missing the WHITE FERNS contracted players list for this season, the Development contract provides a welcome signal to the 21-year-old that she remains on the radar.

Watkin will co-captain the Central Hinds in the Dream 11 Super Smash this season and with WHITE FERNS top order star Amy Sattwethwaite taking maternity leave for 2019/20, both Jess and Natalie will have plenty to aim for this season.

NZC Women’s Development Contracts 2019/20 

NATALIE DODD — Central Hinds — Taranaki

JESS WATKIN — Central Hinds — Whanganui

Skye Bowden — Auckland Hearts

Arlene Kelly — Auckland Hearts

Natasha van Tilburg — Auckland Hearts

Saachi Shahri — Auckland Hearts

Jess Kerr — Wellington Blaze

Jess Simmons — Canterbury Magicians

Article added: Thursday 17 October 2019