Kerr, Dodds land White Ferns contracts
Wellington Blaze bowler Jess Kerr and Central Hinds wicket-keeper/ batswoman Natalie Dodd have been offered White Ferns contracts for the first time, but Rachel Priest and Bernardine Bezuidenhout have been dropped.
Dodd made her debut as a teenager in 2010 while Kerr played both ODI and T20 cricket against South Africa in the 2019-20 season.
Both players had been in the contract frame for a while, earning development contracts in 2019-20, while Kerr was also previously part of the Emerging Players Programme.
White Ferns head coach Bob Carter said Kerr and Dodd fully deserved their new contract offers.
‘‘It’s an acknowledgment of hard work and perseverance from both Jess and Natalie, culminating in a fantastic opportunity ahead of them,’’ he said.
‘‘Jess was an excellent addition to the group last season and impressed the coaching staff with her work ethic and commitment.
We’re looking forward to her developing her game over the next 12 months.
‘‘Natalie has impressed over several seasons at domestic level having been in the top echelon of run scorers while also showing her ability with the gloves. We see this as an opportunity to work on her skills and hopefully build on an international career that started many years ago.’’
Jess Kerr, 22, joins younger sister Amelia, 19, in the White Ferns contract group.
Dodd, 27, bats in the top order for the Central Hinds after switching from Northern Districts in 2018.
Carter said he was happy ‘‘the majority of our group can remain stable as we look for continual improvement and application from our players’’.
‘‘We have an experienced core of White Ferns and want to ensure our younger, less experienced players have the chance to learn from them over the next 12 months.’’