Satterthwaite turns down NZC contract

New Zealand allrounder Amy Satterthwaite has turned down a semi-professional contract from New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Satterthwaite, who has played 55 ODIs and 48 Twenty20 internationals for New Zealand since her debut in July 2007, said she was open to the idea of signing the contract in the future.

"I definitely deliberated back and forth," Satterthwaite told Fairfax NZ News. "It's a great new initiative and I gave it some serious thought before I decided it wasn't for me at this time. That's not to say I would not look at it again in future, if I was offered."

Satterthwaite was among the team's senior players to be offered new contracts. Captain Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Sian Ruck and Sara McGlashan accepted NZC's offer, while Nicola Brown declined. Satterthwaite said she was happy for her team-mates who had accepted the contracts.

The contracts - part of a deal between NZC and the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association - allow women cricketers to train and play as professionals. Contracted players work with a major association and are involved at the grassroots level, helping with female coaching development and mentoring young women cricketers.