Bella James Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A decade of hard work on the domestic scene has earnt Otago Sparks' batter Bella James her first White Ferns central contract for the 2025-26 season.
Auckland Hearts' left-arm seamer Bree Illing has also been awarded her maiden central contract.
Illing and James, who are currently on a New Zealand A tour in England, assume the contract vacancies left by the recently retired Hayley Jensen, and Sophie Devine - who opted for a casual playing agreement.
In 2014 James made her Sparks debut at the age of 16 and has been a key part of the batting unit, assisting the Sparks in claiming back-to-back HBJ Shield titles this year.
James earned her maiden international callup 10 years later when she debuted against Australia in December last year.
Her ball-striking confidence was highlighted when she struck her first international boundary, a six, off the ICC's third-ranked ODI bowler, Megan Schutt, during December's Rosebowl series against Australia.
Twenty-one-year-old Illing made her domestic debut in 2022 and has quickly climbed the ranks, becoming the Hearts' leading wicket-taker.
The left-arm swing bowler claimed 29 wickets across both formats this season, at an average of 21.
Illing's memorable summer continued when she made her ODI and T20I debuts against Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets across the two series, including twice taking the prized wicket of visiting captain Chamari Athapaththu.
The selection process was managed by former chief high performance officer Bryan Stronach and involved White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer and selector Sarah Tsukigawa.
NZC head of women's high performance Liz Green said the contracting round was competitive.
"We're especially excited to welcome Bree and Bella onto the central contract list for the first time.
"Both thoroughly deserve their place and we're excited to see what they're going to bring to the group in what promises to be a huge year for the White Ferns with ODI and T20 World Cups within the contract period," Green said.
Sawyer said the pair deserved their contracts and had great international debuts.
"Bree had an outstanding series against Sri Lanka ...to show up the way she did against a world class batter like Chamari shows she's ready for international cricket.
"Bella's been a consistent performer at the domestic level and had a great debut series against Australia last year. She's got the competencies that we believe will succeed at the international level," Sawyer said.
Players centrally contracted for 2025-2026:
Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.
