Lea Tahuhu ends ODI journey after record‑breaking career

Lea Tahuhu has announced her retirement from Women’s ODI cricket, closing a distinguished 15‑year chapter with the WHITE FERNS. The 35‑year‑old seamer departs as New Zealand’s all‑time leading ODI wicket‑taker with 125 scalps from 103 appearances, having debuted in 2011 against Australia. 

A four‑time World Cup participant, Tahuhu’s final ODI came against England in 2025. Her 36 World Cup wickets remain a national record and rank ninth overall in tournament history. Reflecting on her career, she said wearing the New Zealand shirt “over 100 times” was an honour she never imagined. 

Tahuhu will continue in T20Is and is set to feature against South Africa later this month. A key figure in New Zealand’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, she is now targeting a successful title defence in England later this year, driven by the prospect of another historic campaign.