Wellington Blaze batter Rebecca Burns is one of eight players to have signed a Development Contract for the 2020/21 season as New Zealand Cricket looks to further invest in the women’s game.

The contracts give the NZC High Performance coaches a chance to work with the next generation of female cricketers and learn more about their all-round abilities and future potential. 

A big-hitting batter, Burns has been a key figure at the top of the Blaze batting order and has played an important role in the side’s recent T20 success.

She played every game of the Blaze’s perfect Dream11 Super Smash season last summer, forming an imposing batting top three alongside Rachel Priest and Sophie Devine.

It is the second season NZC has offered the Women’s Development Contracts with the women’s game on a continual rise both domestically and globally.

Burns follows Blaze teammate Jess Kerr who received a Women’s Development Contract last year and went on to debut for the WHITE FERNS in the same summer.

Head of Women’s High Performance, Ant Sharp, said the Development Contracts are a continuation of the commitment NZC is making to the women’s game. 

“It’s exciting to see a new wave of women’s cricketers coming through our Major Association system,” said Sharp.

“These contracts are about giving up-and-coming female cricketers a chance to develop their games by utilising the best coaching resources in the country.” 

Part of the criteria for selecting the Development Contract list is that the players have the potential to become NZC Contracted Players in the future.

NZC Development Contracts 

Bella Armstrong - Auckland

Skye Bowden - Auckland

Rebecca Burns - Wellington

Eden Carson - Otago

Katie Gurrey - Northern Districts

Fran Jonas - Auckland

Jacinta Savage - Canterbury

Jess Watkin - Central Districts

Article added: Tuesday 18 August 2020