New Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu has announced her retirement from ODI cricket, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable 15-year career with New Zealand. One of the most experienced pace bowlers in the team’s history, Tahuhu leaves the 50-over format as the White Ferns’ leading wicket-taker in ODIs.
Healy’s decision marks the end of an era for New Zealand women’s cricket, with the veteran seamer having been a central figure in the team’s bowling attack for more than a decade. While she has stepped away from ODIs, Tahuhu confirmed she will continue to represent New Zealand in the shorter T20 format and remain involved in international cricket.
Tahuhu made her ODI debut against Australia women’s national cricket team in Brisbane in 2011 at the age of 20 and quickly established herself as one of the fastest bowlers in women’s cricket. Over the next 15 years, she became a key component of the White Ferns bowling unit, known for her aggressive pace, bounce, and ability to deliver breakthroughs in crucial moments. She went on to play 103 ODIs and finished her career with 125 wickets, the most by any New Zealand bowler in the format.
During her career, Tahuhu represented New Zealand in multiple global tournaments, including four editions of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. She featured in the tournaments in 2013, 2017, 2022 and 2025, playing a vital role in leading the team’s pace attack. Her performances in World Cups were particularly notable, as she finished with 36 wickets across those competitions, another record for a White Ferns bowler in the tournament. Over the years, she became a senior figure in the squad and played an important role in guiding younger players coming into the national side.
Reflecting on her ODI career, Tahuhu said representing New Zealand had always been the greatest honour of her sporting life. “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.” She added that the experiences, teammates and moments she shared during her time in ODI cricket would remain some of the most memorable chapters of her career.
Tahuhu’s final ODI appearance came during the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she played against the England women’s national cricket team. Although stepping away from the format was not an easy decision, she said the timing felt right as she looks to focus on the T20 format and spend more time preparing for upcoming global competitions. “There’s plenty of exciting things ahead and I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to this team in the T20 format,” Tahuhu 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 praised Tahuhu’s contribution to the team and the legacy she leaves behind. “Lea has operated at the top of the women’s ODI game for 15 years, which is a huge achievement for a pace bowler,” Sawyer said. “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.”
Although her ODI journey has come to an end, Tahuhu’s influence on New Zealand cricket is expected to continue through her presence in T20 internationals and her mentorship of emerging fast bowlers. Her retirement from the 50-over format closes a significant chapter in the history of the White Ferns, but her experience and leadership will remain valuable as the team prepares for the next phase of international competition.
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