Born on 22nd August 1975 in Napier, Hawke’s Bay is former Test, ODI and T20 International player for New Zealand, Rebecca Jane Rolls.
A right-hand batter and wicket keeper, Rebecca made her First Class debut for Central Districts in 1990/91 but it was a full five years before she was selected for the national team. It’s difficult for a wicket keeper for there is only one spot in a team and the White Ferns keeper at the time was also the captain, Sarah Illingworth.
Rebecca made her ODI debut against Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch in 1996/97. She made her debut alongside Helen Bastion and Justine Fryer, as well as the entire Pakistan team. She let through no byes, but took no catches and scored no runs. In the second match of that series she scored 32 in a team total of 455 and then stumped three of the opposition batters in the Pakistan innings.
It’s with the ODI format that Rebecca stands tall, not just for the White Ferns, but globally. In 104 matches she scored 2201 runs at 25.01 with a top score of 114, one of two centuries to go with 12 half centuries and a strike rate of 86.34 which is outstanding for her era. That sits her at 34th in world standings and 8th for New Zealand.
With 43 stumpings and 90 catches, Rebecca’s 133 dismissals is the best of all time for New Zealand and third in the world behind Trisha Chetty and Sarah Taylor. She played in the 1997, 2000 and 2005 World Cups.
Rebecca made one appearance for New Zealand in Test cricket, against England at Scarborough in 2004. She top scored in the first innings with 71 against a high class pace attack that included Lucy Pearson, Katherine Brunt, Isa Guha and Jenny Gunn.
In T20 Internationals, Rebecca played in the very first match, top scored for the White Ferns with 39 and earned herself Player of the Match. Two years later she played in New Zealand’s second T20 I and scored 41, opening the batting. It was Rebecca’s final match and the debut of current skipper, Sophie Devine. It’s a mighty fine resume on its own. Then we add in 21 matches for New Zealand as goalkeeper in their soccer team, making Rebecca a dual international.
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