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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hit an ad to support the Niche Cache, or jump on Patreon and deliver us a peach.

Peace and love.