New Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu has retired from ODI cricket, bringing an end to a glittering 15-year career.

Tahuhu, 35, who first made her ODI debut in June 2011 against Australia as a 20-year-old, ended her journey as the most successful bowler for New Zealand in ODIs, with 125 wickets in 103 matches at 28.01 and an economy of 4.54.

At her peak. Tahuhu was regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in the women’s game, and featured in four ODI World Cups – 2013, 2017, 2022 and 2025. Her 36 wickets in ODI World Cups are the most for a New Zealand bowler in the tournament.

She last played an ODI against England at the 2025 ODI World Cup and is one of just 12 New Zealand players to clock more than 100 ODI matches.

“It’s always been a privilege and honour to pull on the White Ferns shirt in ODI cricket,” Tahuhu said in a New Zealand Cricket 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.”

“There’s plenty of exciting things ahead and I’m looking forward to continuing to contribute to this team in the T20 format. 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 Tahuhu

Tahuhu will continue to play T20I cricket for New Zealand and in the franchise circuit. She last played a T20I in March 2025 against Australia and was also part of the 2024 T20 World Cup-winning New Zealand squad. NZC has confirmed that Tahuhu will be part of the New Zealand squad for the T20I series against South Africa – the squad will be named on March 10. The five-match T20I series gets underway on March 15.

“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.”

New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer lauded Tahuhu’s ODI achievements, saying that her numbers speak for themselves. “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.

“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.”