New Zealand Women contracts: Thamsyn Newton back, Brooke Halliday among three new faces

Brooke Halliday, Frances Mackay and Jess McFadyen are the brand-new faces in the list of centrally contracted New Zealand Women players, while Thamsyn Newton has made a comeback after featuring in the contracts last in 2018. Missing out in the latest list are Katie Perkins, Holly Huddleston, Anna Peterson and Natalie Dodd.

A total of 17 cricketers have been awarded contracts by NZC in what is a World Cup season - the global 50-over competition is scheduled to be played at home for New Zealand in March-April next year. "The overriding criteria is a player's likely playing value to NZC for the contract year ahead with some emphasis on their performance in the previous 12 month period," the board said in a statement.

Halliday, a 25-year-old batter, made a bright start to her ODI career when she hit 50 and 60 in her first two games in the format, against England at home in February this year. She averages 34.00 and strikes at 75.55 in six games.

"Getting a contract tells me that what I've done in the last four months in the White Ferns environment has impressed the coaches and selectors," Halliday said. "It gives me that reassurance that I do belong in the White Ferns environment and that I'm good enough to be there. It gives me more confidence and reassurance going into the camps for the England tour."

Mackay, meanwhile, is an experienced 30-year-old allrounder who has played 21 ODIs and 30 T20Is since her international debut in 2011, and McFayden is a 29-year-old wicketkeeper who hasn't played internationally yet.

"Brooke and Frankie's performances last season were very encouraging and we're looking forward to working closely with those two over the winter," head coach Bob Carter said. "Both have leadership experience at the domestic level and have plenty to add to the group off the park as well as on it. Jess McFadyen is an exciting prospect and had strong campaigns in both the Dream11 Super Smash and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.

"We need to develop our wicketkeepers and Jess has shown ability over several seasons now. She has a wise head on her shoulders and will be an asset to the group, I'm sure."

Medium-pacer Newton earned a recall to the New Zealand T20I squad earlier this year following a strong showing in the Super Smash competition, where she picked up seven wickets with an economy rate of 7.05 while also scoring some useful runs with the bat. Overall, the 25-year-old has played ten ODIs and 12 T20Is, for a total of 20 wickets. Newton had been contracted between 2016 and 2018 but was dropped after that.

The team will assemble at Lincoln University on June 7 for a training camp. They are expected to travel to England in late August for a series of three T20Is and five ODIs, all in September.