Bree Illing and Bella James earn maiden New Zealand contracts
In all, 17 contracts were handed out, including to players like Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu
ESPNcricinfo staff
18-Jun-2025 • 18 hrs ago
Bree Illing made her ODI and T20I debuts against Sri Lanka in March 2025 • Kerry Marshall / Getty Images
Auckland left-arm seamer Bree Illing and Otago batter Bella James have been handed their first central contracts by New Zealand Cricket (NZC).
The pair, who are currently touring England with New Zealand A, filled up the contract vacancies left by Hayley Jensen and Sophie Devine. While Jensen is recently retired, Devine has opted for a casual playing agreement, having announced her ODI retirement after the upcoming World Cup.
Illing, the 21-year-old swing bowler, made her ODI and T20I debut this summer against Sri Lanka and was also Auckland's highest wicket-taker in domestic cricket last season with an average of 21. James' contract comes after her batting contributions powered Otago to another Hallyburton Johnstone (HBJ) Shield title. She made her ODI and T20I debuts against Australia in December 2024 and March 2025 respectively.
"Bree had an outstanding series against Sri Lanka. To show up the way she did against a world-class batter like Chamari Athapaththu shows she's ready for international cricket," New Zealand women's head coach Ben Sawyer said. "Bella's been a consistent performer at the domestic level and had a great debut series against Australia last year. She's got the competencies that we believe will succeed at the international level."
The full list of central contracts, 17 in all, include batters Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Gaze and Polly Inglis, allrounders Amelia Kerr and Hannah Rowe, and bowlers Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold and Lea Tahuhu.