Aimee Watkins (nee Mason) ranks as one of Taranaki’s greatest cricketers.

A genuine all-rounder and respected leader, she played 141 international matches, captained on the world stage, and helped set new standards in the women’s game. The contributions of the aggressive left-hand batter and accurate right arm spin bowler, both on and off the field, are significant, now spanning over 30 years.

Aimee made her senior debut for Taranaki as a 13-year-old New Plymouth Girls’ High School (NPGHS) student. She joined the Central Hinds in the 1998-1999 season, starting a provincial career that would span nearly two decades. She was part of the NPGHS team that won the Yoplait Cup for the national secondary school champions in 2000.

She made her international debut for the White Ferns in 2002 and played 103 One-Day Internationals, 36 Twenty20 Internationals, and two Test matches. She scored two ODI centuries, with a top score of 111, and took 92 wickets. At the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, she was New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker as the team reached the final. That same year, she and Suzie Bates shared a then-world record 118* second-wicket stand in T20 cricket. Aimee was appointed captain ahead of the 2009 ICC T20 World Cup. She took her batting to new heights during the tournament, where she hit an unbeaten 89 off 58 deliveries in the semi-final win over India. She retained the captaincy until her international retirement in 2011, being hailed as a great ambassador on and off the field.

Within Taranaki, Aimee’s contributions to cricket beyond her playing career include coaching, managing, commentating and serving as a Taranaki Cricket Association board director. She continues to assist the Bartercard Taranaki women’s cricket team and the newly-formed Woodleigh premier women’s team.

Aimee was the overall winner of the Taranaki Sports Awards in 2003. She is a life member of the Taranaki Cricket Association and the Woodleigh Cricket Club. She is also an honorary member of New Zealand Cricket and has Honorary Life Membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club and its famous ground, Lord’s.

Taranaki Cricket now awards the Aimee Watkins Cup to the most outstanding Year 7 and 8 girl in the Taranaki Primary School tournament.

Aimee Watkins

1982 - ​​​​​​​

International Career​​​​​​​

2001 - 2011 NEW ZEALAND WHITE FERNS

Statistics

103 ONE DAY INTERNATIONALS

1889 runs, two centuries.  (High score 111 vs Australia)  

92 Wickets (Best bowling  4/2.) 

36 T20 INTERNATIONALS

772 runs, (High score 89*) 22 Wickets, BBI 3/8 

2 TEST MATCHES

Achievements

2009 - 2011: White Ferns Captain 

Aimee led the team to two ICC World T20 Finals as captain

 2009: ICC  World T20 Tournament

Aimee was the tournament's leading run scorer and named in the tournament team.

2009-2010

Aimee was ranked the number two allrounder in the world through this period.

National Career

Statistics

239 List A games

Central Districts Hinds, NZ, Sussex and Devon, including appearances for Central Districts Hinds between 1998 and 2011. 

2362 List A runs and 119 List A wickets for CD Hinds. 

Awards

Aimee was named the New Zealand Domestic Player of the year for the 2002/3, 2003/4 and 2005/06 seasons. She was the overall winner of the Taranaki Sports Awards in 2003. She is a life member of the Taranaki Cricket Association, an honorary member of New Zealand Cricket and has Honorary Life Membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club and its famous ground, Lord’s.​​​​​​​