Wellington, May 23 (UNI) New Zealand all-rounder Hayley Jensen has retired from international cricket with immediate effect.

Jensen calls time on an 11-year international career, having represented New Zealand on 88 occasions (35 ODIs and 53 T20Is) that was highlighted by a total of 76 wickets across all formats.

She also represented New Zealand during their home ICC Women's Cricket World Cup campaign

in 2022 and a total of four ICC Women's T20 World Cup events in 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2023.

Her best effort came in 2020 where she picked up three wickets in a Player of the Match performance against Sri Lanka and finished the tournament as New Zealand's leading wicket-taker with seven scalps.

Jensen's last international appearance came in February 2023, with the 32-year-old deciding the time was right to bow out of the game, an ICC report said.

“Ever since I was 10 years old, I came home from my first cricket tournament and knew I wanted to be a White Fern,” Jensen said.

“To have had the chance to live that dream is something I’ll always treasure," she said.

“It’s been an incredible journey - filled with challenges, growth, unforgettable experiences, and the best group of people I could’ve hoped to share it with," Jensen said.

“It’s never easy to move on from something that’s meant this much, but I know in my heart it’s time,"

she said.

“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and even prouder to have been part of the White Ferns environment,” Jensen added.

New Zealand coach Ben Sawyer paid tribute to the contribution Jensen had made throughout her career.

“I want to congratulate Hayley on a fantastic international career and thank her for her contributions

to the White Ferns environment,” Sawyer said.

“Hayley has made key contributions to the team with both bat and ball on the field and always brought a genuine passion and love for the game," he said.

“We wish her all the best for whatever the future holds,” Sawyer added.

UNI BM