WHITE FERNS bowler Lea Tahuhu has called time on her 15-year ODI career.
Since making her ODI debut as a 20-year-old against Australia in Brisbane in the 2011 Rose Bowl series, the Canterbury pacer has gone on to represent New Zealand in 103 ODIs and steps away from the format as the WHITE FERNS’ all-time leading ODI wicket-taker with 125 wickets.
A stalwart of the WHITE FERNS ODI setup for 15 years, Tahuhu is one of 12 players to have played over 100 ODI matches for the WHITE FERNS and featured at four World Cups, including the 2022 Women’s Cricket World Cup on home soil in New Zealand.
Tahuhu has consistently been ranked inside the top ten ODI bowlers, was widely regarded at her peak as the world’s fastest bowler, and, in 2023, was named in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year after a stellar season.
Tahuhu said the time was right to step down from the longer format of the game.
“It’s always been a privilege and honour to pull on the WHITE FERNS shirt in ODI cricket,” she said.
“To get one game was an amazing feeling. To have been able to wear the shirt and represent my country and my family over 100 times in ODI cricket is something I never could have dreamt of.
“I’ll treasure every moment and walk away from the ODI game incredibly proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in the format.”
Tahuhu, who made what was her final ODI appearance for the WHITE FERNS against England at the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India, said she was excited for what was to come in the T20 format.
“There’s plenty of exciting things ahead and I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to this team in the T20 format,” she said.
“Winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 was a huge achievement and I’m really motivated to be over in England later this year to help this team defend our title.”
WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said Tahuhu’s contributions to the ODI game had been significant.
“Lea has operated at the top of the women’s ODI game for 15 years, which is a huge achievement for a pace bowler,” said Sawyer.
“Lea’s pace has always been a strength, but her competitiveness and drive to push this team forward has stood out and that has rubbed off on the younger bowlers who are now coming through and learning their craft in the ODI game.
“Lea has been the senior member of the ODI bowling group for some time and leaves the group in a great place moving into the next four-year cycle, which is a testament to her leadership.”
Sawyer said Tahuhu’s ODI numbers speak for themselves.
“Stepping down from a format as your country’s all-time leading wicket-taker is some achievement that Lea should be very proud of,” he said.
“Lea has scaled the heights of the ODI game and has set new bowling standards in the format for the WHITE FERNS.”
Tahuhu will continue to be available for selection for the WHITE FERNS in the T20 format and will be part of the WHITE FERNS squad for the LifeDirect T20I series against South Africa which will be named on Tuesday.
At a glance | Lea Tahuhu’s ODI career
- ODI debut – June 14, 2011 – Rose Bowl Series v Australia in Brisbane
- WHITE FERNS all-time leading ODI wicket-taker – 125 wickets
- 103 ODI matches (one of just 12 players to play 100 ODIs for the WHITE FERNS)
- Named in the 2023 ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year
- Four ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup tournament appearances (2013, 2017, 2022, 2025)
