Born on 12th May 1978 in Dunedin, Otago, is former Test and ODI player for New Zealand, Anna Michelle Smith (nee O’Leary).
A right-hand batter, Anna began her career with Wellington in both First Class and limited overs cricket in 1994/95 and it was in the longest form of the game that she made her debut for the White Ferns in 1996.
Her Test debut, and indeed her only Test match was against England in July 1996 at Worcester. She made 27 in the only innings she batted.
Over two years later Anna made her ODI debut against South Africa at Dunedin. South Africa were dismissed for 82. Opening the batting, Anna was 42 not out when the White Ferns passed the visitor’s total. She would go on to play a total of 19 ODIs for New Zealand scoring 497 runs at 33.13, with a top score of 91 not out against Sri Lanka at Lincoln.
A high point would surely be the World Cup in 2000 when she was one of the victorious White Ferns as they defeated Australia by four runs in the final.
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