Born on 14th September 1951 in Auckland, former New Zealand Test and ODI captain, Karen Plummer is New Zealand’s seventh Test captain.
Karen began her first class career as an opening bowler for North Shore in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in 1967/8. By 1973/4 she has married (nee Burdett) and moved up the order from the number eleven position she had occupied for the first few years, still opening the bowling. By 1978 she is opening the batting and bowling first change. Why is this of interest? For over a decade Karen’s primary role was that of a bowler. In the four Tests she played, not a single delivery was bowled. In ODI’s, just 10 overs. She had completely transformed her role as a cricketer.
A debut for the White Ferns came in the World Cup of 1981/2, played at home in New Zealand. In all, Karen played 11 ODI’s, captaining in three of those matches.
Test debut came in the first Test at Leeds in the 1984 series in England. She missed the next two Tests and the next time Karen Plummer pulled on that blazer she would become New Zealand’s 7th Test cricket captain. A three Test series at home to England resulted in a 1-0 series loss.