“I have loved my time being part of the White Ferns group, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have represented my country,” Down said in a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket. “I will miss being around the girls, but I’m now looking forward to watching on from the sidelines, and seeing what this group is able to achieve.”
Down was part of five successful Hallyburton Johnstone Shield campaigns, most recently in 2019-20, where she scored 90 in the final to help Auckland defeat Northern Districts.
“Lauren has been a fantastic team person and has always given her all in the White Ferns environment”
Ben Sawyer
“A huge part of my cricket career has been in the Auckland set up, and I cannot thank Auckland Cricket, my coaches and team-mates enough for the part they have played in my journey,” Down said.
The international debut had come prior to that, in March 2018, in an ODI against West Indies in Lincoln. Down went on to feature in 35 ODIs and 13 T20Is for New Zealand, scoring 486 runs in ODIs at an average of 16.75, and 93 in T20Is at an average of 13.28.
“Lauren has been a fantastic team person, and has always given her all in the White Ferns environment,” New Zealand Women’s head coach Ben Sawyer said. “It’s a testament to her dedication and commitment to her game that she was able to go away to welcome her first child, and then return to the level of international cricket so quickly. Lauren has been a valued member of the White Ferns, and has always demonstrated the values of our team both inside and outside the environment.”
Down opted out of a central contract for the 2023-24 season to welcome her first child, before returning to the 2024-25 list and featuring on the 2024 tours of England and India. She represented New Zealand for what would be the final time in the third ODI against Australia at Basin Reserve last summer.