Fifteen of the top women's cricketers in New Zealand will be offered retainer contracts with a significant pay rise © IDI/Getty Images

New Zealand's women's team is in for a major boost, with New Zealand Cricket announcing a larger number of annual contracts that will come with a significant pay rise as well. As per a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding that was signed between NZC and the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, 15 of the country's top women cricketers will be offered retainer contracts, with the pay ranging between $20,000 and $34,000.

That is a stark rise from 10 contracts annually, with pay ranging between $10,000 and $12,000, previously. With match fees of $400 per ODI and $300 for T20Is, members of the women's team could earn more than $40000 per annum. That would be apart from endorsement deals, prize money and earnings from overseas leagues.

David White, the NZC chief executive, welcomed the move, saying, "Better remunerating our best women's players fits in well with NZC's strategic priority of making cricket a game for all New Zealanders, and our commitment towards inclusivity and diversity. Internationally, women's cricket is going from strength to strength and this new MoU recognises that evolution."

The national coach, Haidee Tiffen, was thrilled with the move, which she expected would encourage more young women to take up cricket professionally. "This is great news for women's cricket, for both the current players in New Zealand, and our hopes of producing top White Ferns in the future", she said. "It's the sort of investment that will really make a difference, particularly in terms of sustaining our presence in the top echelon of women's international cricket".

The first round of contracts will be announced on Friday. New Zealand Women are up for a busy international season that starts off with a tour of South Africa in October, followed by a home series against Pakistan, and home and away series against Australia.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.