BERNIE’S BACK! ND LOOKS TO THE FUTURE WITH 2024/25 WOMEN’S CONTRACT LIST

12 Aug 2024

Northern Districts Cricket (ND) has proudly announced the first 12 contracted women’s players for the upcoming 2024/25 summer of cricket. Bernadine Bezuidenhout is an explosive opening batter, acrobatic wicker-keeper, AND former WHITE FERN. She makes her return to the contract list after recently retiring from international cricket. Two players have also received their first domestic contracts: Jesse Prasad and Marina Lamplough will already be familiar to fans, having featured regularly in the playing XI last season.

“Our women’s team made great progress last season, and we know this group can continue that upward trajectory in both domestic competitions” said Ian Sandbrook, General Manager of High Performance. “The list has an excellent blend of young, high potential players and quality, established domestic players that we hope will make us a competitive force.”

“We are pleased to welcome Bernadine Bezuidenhout back to our contract list after announcing her retirement from International Cricket over the winter. Bernie is a quality player who will provide invaluable international experience and know-how to our young squad, and we are grateful for her continued commitment to growing our programme.”

Bezuidenhout represented the WHITE FERNS in 16 ODIs and 22 T20s, and previously represented South Africa. Together with Caitlin Gurrey, she gives us an experienced and dynamic duo at the top of the batting order in both one-day and Super Smash T20 formats. An ND rep since 2016/17, Bernadine averages 30 in both formats, with an impressive Strike Rate of 109 in Super Smash. She has also been a regular wicketkeeper in both international and domestic cricket.

Jesse Prasad and Marina Lamplough have earned domestic contracts for the first time. They might be new players on the contract list, but they are both are experienced players who performed well for ND last season.

Jesse moved to ND last season after several seasons with Auckland. She made an immediate impact in the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competition with her accurate and economical medium pace bowling. She also finished with a spectacular batting average of 69, showing her all round potential with several significant contributions with a high score of 49*.

Lamplough has formerly represented both Hong Kong (her birth place) and Otago. After moving to ND in the 2022/23 season, she has represented ND in three List A and 15 Super Smash matches. Last season she became a regular in the Super Smash team as an enterprising middle order batter who also provided a useful medium pace bowling option. Her enthusiastic and sometimes inspirational fielding is a major asset as the team strives to raise standards in this area. 

Both players have earned their spot. “They both contribute so much to our team, and this is great reward for the work they’ve put in and their performances last season” he said.

In other player news, all-rounder Skye Bowden, who has previously played for the Auckland Hearts, will be joining the Northern Districts team but will not be domestically contracted. Bowden was the leading wicket taker for the Hearts in the 2024/25 Super Smash this season with 10 wickets at an average of 12.2.

Unfortunately, Lucy Boucher has a planned knee surgery which will see her miss the season.

The final 13th contract will be announced on Tuesday, 27 August.

Northern Districts Women
First Round Contracted Players 2024-25