Devonshire, Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp earn NZ central contracts

Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire, and Nensi Patel have been added to the list of 17 women's central contract players for the 2026-27 season in New Zealand. They join an experienced core that includes regulars like Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, and Georgia Plimmer, as well as captain Melie Kerr. Devonshire and Sharp signed contracts after participating for a year in NZC's Central Players of Interest program, a pathway program intended to accelerate talent development. On the contract list, the three have taken the place of Suzie Bates, Lauren Down, and Lea Tahuhu. In addition, the contracted group does not include Sophie Devine, who was on a casual playing contract last season. Down has decided to stop playing for the international team, and Bates, Tahuhu, and Devine are planning to retire after the Women's T20 World Cup. Ben Sawyer, the head coach of New Zealand, stated, "Flora's a clean striker with lots of power." "She offers a point of difference because she can hit to different areas of the field because she uses her left hand, and her left-arm orthodox bowling adds another benefit. Nensi has excellent control over her length and pace, and she is always accurate with the ball. "Izzy's batting has been getting better and better. It's really exciting to bring someone with Izzy's power onto a central contract so we can continue working with her to develop those skills because she possesses qualities similar to Sophie's. Soph will soon retire from international cricket, so she possesses similar qualities. Devonshire, a Central Districts left-arm batting allrounder, made her international debut in March 2025 and was selected for two World Cup teams. In 2022 and 2023, Patel returned to the contracted group after receiving a central contract previously. Since making her international debut in February, the spin-bowling all-rounder from Northern Districts has had a positive start to her career. She has taken 14 wickets in T20Is at an economy rate of 4.04 and an average of 9.8. She also made an immediate impression in the lead-up to the Women's Twenty20 World Cup, scoring 4 for 18 in New Zealand's first warm-up match against Bangladesh. Sharp, a Timaru-born right-handed batswoman, was on her first domestic contract with Canterbury when she served as New Zealand's captain at the inaugural Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup in 2023. During the 2025-26 Super Smash season, Sharp was a key member of the Canterbury Magicians' lineup. He scored 128 runs on average and was the team's leading run scorer. Fran Jonas, a left-arm spinner, has kept her contract despite recently playing for New Zealand A on their tour of Sri Lanka. New Zealand women's central contract Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold,Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp