Born on 15th September 1974 in Avondale, Auckland, is former Test and ODI player for New Zealand, Emily Cecilia Drumm.
A right hand batter, medium pace and leg-break bowler, Emily burst onto the international scene at the age of seventeen against Australia in an ODI in January 1992. A month later she would make her Test debut, against England at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, opening the bowling and batting at number six. Both of these initial matches for Emily returned modest results, but this change in a hurry, becoming one of the most dominant cricketers of her generation.
Emily played in 100 ODIs which included four World Cups, the sweetest of which was captaining New Zealand to World Cup glory over Australia at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln on 23rd December 2000. She scored 2844 runs in that career at 35.11 average, with a high score of 116, one of two centuries and nineteen half-centuries. Her bowling resulted in 37 wickets at 21.02 with a best of 4-31 against Australia in Auckland in 1994. She also scored 38 not out in that match, a low scoring affair.
Was that World Cup moment her proudest achievement? Or was it the 161 not out in a Test match against the Aussies at Hagley Oval, Christchurch in Match 1995? She backed that up with 62 not out in the second innings.
“Emily Drumm was magnificent and was emerging as a key young player who played aggressively.” – Australian captain Belinda Clark
Emily would play in five Tests, scoring 433 runs at 144.33 with two centuries and two half centuries with the 161 not out the high water mark. In 2006 Emily was appointed as Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours list for services to women’s cricket.
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