White Ferns and Otago Sparks wicketkeeper-batter Katey Martin has pulled stumps on a decorated international and domestic cricket career spanning 21 years.
Not too many years ago the thought of an upstart colonial coaching the English cricket team would have been enough to have members of the MCC snorting into their pink gins.
Black Caps World Cup star Jimmy Neesham has been cut from the national contract list, while Wellington Firebirds all-rounder Michael Bracewell received an offer for the first time.
England have unveiled Ben Stokes as their test captain, hoping for a swift turnaround under the talismanic all-rounder after a tame end to Joe Root's five years in charge of the team.
Joe Root has stepped down as England's test cricket captain, succumbing to pressure from influential figures within the game following a run of poor results capped by dispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean.
Albion stalwart Gerard Finnie and promising Otago batter Jacob Cumming were among the prize winners on the opening day of the New Zealand Cricket awards.
Former NZ cricketer James Franklin is at the centre of historic allegations in which an Indian cricketer claims he was left bound and gagged for a night during a party to celebrate winning the Champions League.