The White Ferns and Otago Sparks captain has, for all intents and purposes, been a professional sportswoman since she left Otago Girls' High School in 2005.
Yesterday she returned to give the school's First XI some pointers as part of her new role with Otago and New Zealand Cricket.
Bates joins White Ferns team-mates Sophie Devine, Sian Ruck and Sara McGlashan as the first group of New Zealand women to be awarded professional contracts.
As part of their contract, they are required to work closely with a major association to promote and develop grassroots women's cricket.
Bates has been in the role about four weeks and is enjoying both the pay cheque and the work.
''This school has some keen cricketers so it is nice to come back and, hopefully, get a cricket team going which starts competing.''
Australia and England have offered contracts to their best female cricketers for the past ''couple of years'', Bates said.
''They have led the way in terms of contracting players but what is exciting about this is, although we are getting paid to play and be available for the White Ferns, we are actually involved part-time in helping grow the girls' game.
''I think it is a really good initiative. The money we are earning is also going back into girls' cricket. And I guess the development has not been that good in the last few years, so to be able to try and contribute to that while you are still playing and have the profile is pretty exciting.''
Bates played for the Tall Ferns at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 but put her basketball career on hold last year when she was appointed White Ferns captain.
However, she was lured back to the court by veteran basketball coach John Paul and helped the Goldrush win three of their four games during the opening leg of the Women's Basketball Championships in Rotorua earlier this month.
Cricket comes first, though. The White Ferns go to the West Indies in October for a tri-series that also involves England.
