Cricket: Bates among 10 female players to receive contracts

Suzie Bates
Suzie Bates
Otago star Suzie Bates leads a ground-breaking list of New Zealand cricketers to be given national contracts.

Ten of the country's leading female players make up the first list of New Zealand women to be given full playing contracts.

Previously, our best femalecricketers have had to be content with match fees or, in the case of Bates and three others last year, contracts that requiredpromotion and development work.

Bates, the best women's player in the world, would have been the first name on the list, and it can be safely assumed she will hold the No 1 ranking.

Senior White Ferns players Sara McGlashan and Rachel Priest would also have been highly rated, while relative newcomers Holly Huddleston, Hayley Jensen and Felicity Leydon-Davis are rewarded for their potential.

Samantha Curtis, Sophie Devine, Morna Nielsen and Katie Perkins are the other players to receive contracts.

Bates is the only Otago player to be contracted, something of a disappointment, given the Sparks won the national title last summer.

The contracts come under the terms of a new memorandum of understanding between New Zealand Cricket and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association.

White Ferns coach Hamish Barton was pleased with the balance of the list.

''This group of players are expected to form the core of our team over the next 12 months and likely play a key role in how successful we are during this time,'' Barton said.

''It's a busy upcoming summer for us and I know that both myself and the team are incredibly excited about the opportunities in front of us, beginning with our tour of the West Indies in September.''

Veteran all-rounder Nicola Browne opted out of consideration, as her job with the Hamilton City Council may mean she isn't available for every tour.

''Nicola is really keen to stay involved, but also has a number of exciting things going on outside of cricket and we understand that. She's a valued member of the side and we'll be working closely with her.''

 

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