When the 2018/19 domestic season rolls around, for the first time in her career, prolific opening batsman Natalie Dodd will be playing for a team other than Northern Spirit.
Dodd has played 93 one-day and 62 Twenty20 matches for Northern Spirit; their captain last season and ND women’s player of the year for the past two years, as well as having played 18 matches for the WHITE FERNS.
That wealth of experience is just what the doctor ordered for the youthful Central Hinds squad that she will join for the coming season.
Dodd will bring invaluable match experience to the neighbouring team that took its first steps into the future with a fresh-look squad last summer — including five debutantes.
Just 25 herself, high-achieving Dodd also has plenty of cricket left in front of her, and is looking forward to challenging herself in a fresh environment for the first time since her 2007/08 Spirit debut — when she was still a schoolgirl.
Dodd is poised to play her 100th domestic one-day match in 2018/19. PHOTOSPORT
Says Dodd, “I have enjoyed my time with ND Cricket and I thank the players and the staff for their support over the years. It was a tough decision to move to CD, but I feel it is the right move for me at this point of time in my career.”
Away from cricket, Dodd has an established career in the Waikato region as a primary schoolteacher, and will remain based in Hamilton whilst representing the Hinds.
The stylish right-hander’s experience is just one of the positives that Central Hinds Coach Jamie Watkins sees Dodd bringing to his side.
“We’re stoked to have Nat on board because her experience is huge for us,” says Taranaki-based Watkins. “It’s also ideal when you look at what it will do for the balance of our squad.
Youth is a feature of the rebuilding Central Hinds squad. PHOTOSPORT
“With [Wellington-based opening batsman] Rebecca Burns returning to play for Wellington Blaze next season, part of Nat’s appeal is the stability she will bring to the top of our order. In addition, Nat has also kept wicket in the past — which means we now have a back-up wicketkeeping option for Kerry Tomlinson.
“And frankly, that was a concern for us last summer: knowing that if Kerry were injured, we would have been vulnerable behind the stumps. We have a couple of quite young keepers in the CD region who are still progressing to domestic level, but we didn’t have the readymade back-up of someone like Nat.”
Under new captain Anlo van Deventer, the young Hinds finished in the top four of last summer’s NZC Women’s Twenty20 competition, while two wins in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield saw them to fifth out of the six teams in the one-day format.
Captain Anlo van Deventer is delighted by the Hinds' new acquisition. PHOTOSPORT
But it could have been better.
“In the close games, it was our batting letting us down, rather than our bowling or fielding,” says Watkins. “So I’m really excited about what next season has to offer, and looking forward to welcoming Nat into our team culture which is something we really pride ourselves on.”
Dodd tallied 3,969 runs across both formats for Northern Spirit, including seven one-day centuries and four Twenty20 half centuries. First called up to the WHITE FERNS at just 17, most recently she was included in this year’s home T20 series against the West Indies.
Peter Zanzottera, NDCA Director of High Performance Programmes, is understanding of Dodd’s reasoning for seeking a new challenge in green instead of pink.
“Having worked with Natalie for a number of years, I am appreciative of the time and effort that she has put in as one of our leaders in the Spirit squad.
“She is a proven, talented player with focus on where she wants to go with her game. Whilst we are sorry to see her go, we wish Natalie all the best in the next stages of her cricketing career.”
