New Zealand's experienced campaigner Lea Tahuhu has called time on her ODI career. Lea has had a 15-year-long ODI career and will continue to represent the White Ferns in the T20I format.
Lea felt that it is the right time to announce retirement from ODIs.
“It’s always been a privilege and honour to pull on the WHITE FERNS shirt in ODI cricket,” she said in an official statement.
“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.”
Lea’s ODI career
Lea made her ODI debut against Australia in 2011. Her last ODI appearance was against England in the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025.
Lea has represented New Zealand in 103 ODIs, claiming 125 wickets at an average of 28.01. The 35-year-old has one fifer and three four-fers in her name. She has been handy with the bat down the order, scoring 442 runs from 69 innings.
In 2023, Lea was named in ODI team of the year.
Focus on T20 World Cup 2026
Lea is looking forward to the playing the T20 format only. The last time she played a T20I for New Zealand was in March 2025. It will be interesting to see whether she makes it to their T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
“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.”
Lea will look to cement her spot in the T20I squad when New Zealand take on South Africa in the five-T20I series that begins on March 15.
Currently, Lea is New Zealand's third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is. She will have a chance to achieve a personal milestone against South Africa. She needs five more wickets to complete 100 T20I wickets.