New Zealand Cricket have dropped their list of eight kiwi cricketers who have earned 'Development Contracts' to sit below the contracted group of White Ferns. Given how women's cricketing is flourishing around the world and the vast opportunities that are available across the ditch in Australia for example, these development contracts are crucial to ensure that Aotearoa's White Ferns are at least competitive, if not a dominant force in international cricket.

Across all the sports the Niche Cache covers, there are waves of immense young talent working their way to the top level and cricket's definitely one of those sports. Here are the basics for the eight players who NZC have selected for their development contracts and perhaps the most promising young female cricketers in Aotearoa.

Bella Armstrong

20yrs - Auckland - Righty seam.

When you're 18-years-old and outfox the WHITE FERNS captain
Bella Armstrong & the Auckland Hearts are back in action on day 2 at the #NZCWT20 in Lincoln.
LIVE scores and stream at https://t.co/2CrN1E3pHx 🏏 pic.twitter.com/EAVkc2GOma
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) February 8, 2018

Overall One Day

Bat: 10.40avg/51.23sr.

Bowl: 18.09avg/3.79rpo.

Overall T20

Bat: 8.91avg/103.88sr.

Bowl: 22.75avg/6rpo.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bat: 48th, 15.66avg/47.95sr.

Bowl: 1st, 14.95avg/3.93rpo.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bat: 32nd, 8.88avg/123.07sr.

Bowl: 16th, 37.87avg/6.58rpo.

Skye Bowden

19yrs - Auckland - Righty seam.

What a finish! 6 runs needed, 3 balls remaining - enter Skye Bowden who smacks her second ball straight over the boundary for a maximum to give NZ Development the win and a 2-0 series victory with one game to go! 👏👏

SCORECARD | https://t.co/jOIkNfZrk5 #cricketnation #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/3R0dkxmYaw
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) March 14, 2019

Overall One Day

Bat: 10.25avg/74.54sr.

Bowl: 25.28avg/4.05rpo

Rebecca Burns

25yrs - Wellington - Righty bat.

Overall One Day

Bat: 24.36avg/63.27sr.

Bowl: 31.62avg/4.77rpo.

Overall T20

Bat: 15.75avg/90.48sr.

Bowl: 30avg/6.66rpo.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bat: 18th, 39.20avg/91.16sr.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bat: 20th, 23.28avg/101.87sr.

Eden Carson

19yrs - Otago - Righty offies.

Awesome story in the Otago Daily Times today, on Eden Carson's Development Contract 👏 Mr. Carson we owe you one!

FULL STORY | https://t.co/JtQUUVPEoi #OurOtago #SparksForLife
— Otago Cricket (@OtagoVolts) August 18, 2020

Overall One Day

Bat: 11.45avg/60.57sr.

Bowl: 49.40avg/5.32rpo.

Overall T20

Bat: 8avg/72.72sr.

Bowl: 19.14avg/6.93rpo.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bat: 26th, 14.25avg/65.14sr.

Bowl: 30th, 58avg/5.09rpo.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bat: 49th, 7.66avg/71.87sr.

Bowl: 11th, 16.81avg/6.68rpo.

Katie Gurrey

25yrs - Northern Districts - Righty bat - 2 x T20I,

Northern Spirit's Katie Gurrey took out the Ruth Martin Cup for batting after she totalled 992 runs across the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Dream11 Super...

The supreme women's domestic award was claimed by Northern Spirit's Katie Gurrey, who also took out the Ruth Martin Cup for batting after she totalled 992 ru...

Have you ever seen a more ice cool celebration from someone who has just reached 100? What a knock from Katie Gurrey! #ndtogether #gothespirit pic.twitter.com/9vgWHEMTmE
— Northern Districts (@ndcricket) December 1, 2018

Overall One Day

Bat: 30.86avg/69.40sr.

Overall T20

Bat: 30.86avg/111.32sr.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bat: 1st, 72avg/82.40sr.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bat: 3rd, 52avg/133.33sr.

Fran Jonas

16yrs - Auckland - Lefty spin.

Fran Jonas gets her first wicket on debut!
Jonas tosses it up and Cox picks out Armstrong at mid-off.

Then Armstong gets a wicket of her own.

Magicians 89/3 (12) | HEARTS 204/5 | #FollowSuit | LIVE SCORECARD | https://t.co/buhYF3KmEh pic.twitter.com/KMAHmsxVof
— Auckland Cricket (@aucklandcricket) December 13, 2019

Fran Jonas with the direct hit. Spirit six down now.

Spirit 223/6 (38) | HEARTS 322/5 | LIVE SCORECARD | https://t.co/q2ZHyRc1vc #HBJShield #FollowSuit pic.twitter.com/tfYzGTvU3p
— Auckland Cricket (@aucklandcricket) March 14, 2020

Overall One Day

Bowl: 21.14avg/3.81rpo.

Overall T20

Bowl: 33.50avg/6.62rpo.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bowl: 18th, 21.14avg/3.81rpo.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bowl: 25th, 33.50avg/6.62rpo.

Jacinta Savage

25yrs - Canterbury - Righty bat/seam.

WICKETS | Jacinta Savage takes 3 wickets in the over! Gurrey, Anderson and then Richardson gone.

SCORING | https://t.co/zyzsbMo3mf #wearecanterbury #cricketnation #supersmashnz #spiritvmagicians pic.twitter.com/FftRQaBzEV
— Canterbury Cricket (@CanterburyCrick) January 5, 2020

Overall One Day

Bat: 19.29avg/53.30sr.

Bowl: 47.22avg/5.07rpo.

Overall T20

Bat: 14.14avg/91.24sr.

Bowl: 18.44avg/6.38rpo.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bat: 15th, 28.37avg/60.53sr.

Bowl: 8th, 31.60avg/5.06rpo.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bat: 20th, 18.11avg/94.21sr.

Bowl: 9th, 18.50avg/6.49rpo.

Jess Watkin

22yrs - Central Districts - Right bat/offies - 6 x ODI, 9 x T20I.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Overall One Day

Bat: 22.15/74.31sr.

Bowl: 25.94avg/3.92rpo.

Overall T20

Bat: 20.71avg/120.78sr.

Bowl: 28.20avg/6.21rpo.

2019/20 Aotearoa One Day

Bat: 5th, 42.77avg/102.66sr.

Bowl: 24th, 47avg/3.71rpo.

2019/20 Super Smash

Bat: 7th, 27.50avg/152.77sr.

Bowl: 19th, 36.42avg/6.89rpo.

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