New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has awarded Flora Devonshire, Nancy Patel and Izzy Sharp central contracts for the 2026-27 season, with the trio among the White Ferns’ 17-man contract pool.
Devonshire and Sharp received the contracts after spending last year on NZC’s Central Players of Interest programme.
Three players have replaced Susie Bates, Lauren Towne and Leah Tahuhu on the central contract list. Sophie Devine, who played under a casual contract last season, is also absent from the contract pool.
Towne has retired from international cricket, while Bates, Tahuhu and Devine are expected to end their international careers following the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Established internationals such as Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair and Georgia Plimmer are joined by newcomers in an experienced White Ferns centre, led by captain Mellie Kerr.
A left-arm batsman and left-arm spinner, Central Districts all-rounder Devonshire made his international debut in March 2025 and has since been selected in two World Cup squads.
Patel returns to the contract group after previously holding the White Ferns central contract through the 2022-23 season.
The Northern Districts spin-bowling all-rounder has enjoyed an impressive start to his international career since his debut in February, picking up 14 T20I wickets at an average of 9.8 and an economy rate of 4.04.
She also starred in New Zealand’s preparations for the Women’s T20 World Cup, taking 4 for 18 against Bangladesh in the White Ferns’ opening warm-up match.
Sharp, a powerful right-handed batsman from Timaru, captained New Zealand in the 2023 ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup while on her first domestic contract with Canterbury.
A key figure for the Canterbury Wizards, he averaged 30 and 128 in the 2025–26 Super Smash season, finishing as the side’s leading run-scorer.
Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Fran Jonas has retained his central contract after representing New Zealand A during the recent tour of Sri Lanka.
New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer praised the new signings and highlighted their potential to become key members of the national team.
“Flora is a clean striker with a lot of power,” said New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer. “Being left-handed, he offers a difference as he can hit different parts of the field, and has the added bonus of his left-arm orthodox bowling.
“Nancy is consistently accurate with the ball and has great control over her length and speed.
“Izzy’s batting has been strong. She has similar qualities to Sophie. Sophie is retiring from international cricket soon and it’s exciting to bring someone with Izzy’s power on a central contract so we can continue to work with her.”
New Zealand Women’s Central Contracts for 2026-27: Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Case, Maddie Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Mellie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nancy Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Sharp and more.