Lauren Down is set to return to the New Zealand Women's central contract list for the 2024-25 season, alongside wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis, who has received her first central contract offer.

Down, recently named in the ODI squad for the upcoming England tour, returns after a maternity break that led to her declining a contract last season.

Inglis’ offer follows her impressive performance with the New Zealand A side, which triumphed over England A in a One Day home series in March. Inglis was a standout for the Otago Sparks in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, finishing as the competition's second-highest run-scorer and earning Fielder of The Year and Players’ Player awards.

Among last season’s centrally contracted players, former wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout has retired from international cricket while Kate Anderson did not receive an offer for the upcoming season.

The remainder of the list is a familiar mix of players who have retained their contracts, including captain Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green and Lea Tahuhu, also featuring all-rounders Jess Kerr, Brooke Halliday and Hannah Rowe, young spin bowling duo Eden Carson and Fran Jonas, seam bowlers Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold and Hayley Jensen, batter Georgia Plimmer and wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Gaze.

Full list: Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu.

“We’ve landed on a strong list of 17 names that we think are going to play an important part over the next 12 months,” said Head coach Ben Sawyer.

“It’s a familiar group made up of experienced and younger players that we believe are going to drive this team forward.

“I’m excited about the way this group is progressing together and what they can achieve over the next year.”

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A significant focus was on identifying players for the 2025 ODI World Cup, with Sawyer noting Inglis’ strong domestic season as a key factor in her selection as the backup wicketkeeper behind Izzy Gaze.

“A big part of the selection process this year was looking at who could take part in the 2025 ODI World Cup,” Sawyer added.

“Polly’s had a great domestic season with both bat and gloves and for that, she’s been rewarded with a contract.

“Izzy Gaze at the moment is our number one keeper in both formats and she deserves that spot, but we need a backup keeper; we’ve spoken to Polly about that and she’s forced her way into this group."

The 2024-25 contracting period begins on August 1, with players having until June 17 to accept their offers.