• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Bree Illing Bella James Promoted As Kiwis Announce White Ferns Central Contracts

Bree Illing, Bella James Promoted As Kiwis Announce White Ferns' Central Contracts

Akshita Patel

White Ferns' central contracts for 2025-26 released [Source: @WHITE_FERNS/X.com]White Ferns' central contracts for 2025-26 released [Source: @WHITE_FERNS/X.com]

New Zealand Cricket has announced that pacer Bree Illing and batter Bella James have received their first-ever central contracts with the White Ferns for the 2025-26 season. The young duo earned the call-up after impressive performances in domestic cricket.

The central contracts to New Zealand’s Women's cricket team, also known as the White Ferns, were released on June 17, 2025. Veterans like Amelia Kerr, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu retained their contracts, whereas two youngsters got their maiden deals.

White Ferns Add Illing And Bella To Central Contract List

In two new additions, the White Ferns have awarded maiden central contracts to left-arm pacer Bree Illing and promising batter Bella James, as revealed in an official report.

Bree Illing, a 21-year-old left-arm fast bowler from the Auckland Hearts, has made a big impression in domestic cricket. Since her debut in 2022, she has emerged as the Hearts' leading wicket-taker.

This season, she took 29 wickets, including 2 four-wicket hauls in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield. Illing also made her debut for New Zealand in both ODIs and T20Is against Sri Lanka and took 6 wickets, including dismissing star batter Chamari Athapaththu twice.

Bella James, a batter from the Otago Sparks, has worked hard for years in domestic cricket. She made her debut at just 16 and has been a steady performer for the Sparks. In her White Ferns debut against Australia, James showed her power by hitting a six off top bowler Megan Schutt. 

The two players were given contracts after Hayley Jensen retired, and Sophie Devine chose a casual playing agreement after she took an indefinite break from cricket earlier this year.

The full list of  White Ferns 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