Auckland Hearts

History

The first recorded match by an Auckland women's team was in 1935, against the touring England team, which ended in a draw. The played in the first Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in 1935–36, which they lost to Wellington. They won their first title in 1939–40, beating Wellington, and defended the Shield a year later against the same opposition.

They went on to win the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 20 times overall, including three times in a row between 1946–47 and 1948–50 and four times in a row between 1999–00 and 2002–03. In 1959–60, Auckland competed in the Australian Women's Cricket Championships. In 1994–95, the side merged with North Harbour (previously North Shore). The side has won the title five times since 2011–12, with their most recent title coming in 2019–20. They beat Northern Districts in the final that season, with Arlene Kelly scoring 110 to set up a 67-run victory. In 2020–21, they lost in the final to Canterbury.

In 2007–08, Auckland played in the inaugural season of the Twenty20 Super Smash. They have won the tournament once, in 2013–14, beating Canterbury in the final.

Grounds

Auckland have used various ground throughout their history. Their first match, against England, was played at Eden Park, Auckland. From the 1951–52 season, Auckland's primary home ground became Melville Park, Auckland. In the 1981–82 season, two matches were played at Hobson Park, Auckland.

The side returned to Eden Park in 1992–93, and from the 1998–99 season they also began using the secondary ground on the same site, the Eden Park Outer Oval. In 1996–97, Auckland began using Colin Maiden Park for some matches, and in the early 2000s they also used North Harbour Stadium, but their main ground remained Melville Park. Melville Park was last used in the 2019–20 season. Since, Auckland have played all their matches at the Eden Park Outer Oval, the main Eden Park ground, and Colin Maiden Park.

Players

Current squad

Based on squad announced for the 2023–24 season. Players in bold have international caps.

Notable players

Players who have played for Auckland and played internationally are listed below, in order of first international appearance (given in brackets):

• NZL Nancy Browne (1935)
• NZL Pearl Savin (1935)
• NZL Vera Burt (1948)
• NZL Hilda Thompson (1948)
• NZL Una Wickham (1948)
• NZL Peg Batty (1949)
• NZL Grace Gooder (1949)
• NZL Rona McKenzie (1954)
• NZL Joyce Powell (1954)
• NZL Brenda Duncan (1957)
• NZL Caroline Sinton (1957)
• NZL Jos Burley (1966)
• NZL Judi Doull (1966)
• NZL Louise Clough (1969)
• NZL Lynda Prichard (1972)
• NZL Elaine White (1972)
• NZL Carol Marett (1972)
• NZL Barbara Bevege (1973)
• NZL Glenys Page (1973)
• NZL Edna Ryan (1975)
• NZL Karen Plummer (1982)
• NZL Nicki Turner (1982)
• NZL Linda Fraser (1982)
• NZL Jeanette Dunning (1984)
• NZL Shona Gilchrist (1984)
• NZL Lois Simpson (1985)
• NZL Katrina Molloy (1985)
• NZL Sue Morris (1988)
• NZL Kim McDonald (1991)
• NZL Shelley Fruin (1992)
• NZL Yvonne Kainuku (1992)
• NZL Emily Drumm (1992)
• NZL Sarah McLauchlan (1992)
• NZL Tania Woodbury (1992)
• NZL Trudy Anderson (1993)
• IRE Catherine O'Neill (1993)
• NZL Clare Nicholson (1995)
• NZL Kelly Brown (1996)
• NZL Losi Harford (1997)
• NZL Kathryn Ramel (1997)
• NZL Rebecca Rolls (1997)
• NZL Helen Watson (1999)
• NZL Paula Gruber (2000)
• NZL Munokoa Tunupopo (2000)
• NZL Sara McGlashan (2002)
• NZL Amanda Green (2003)
• NZL Michelle Lynch (2003)
• NZL Natalee Scripps (2003)
• AUS Kate Blackwell (2004)
• NZL Ros Kember (2006)
• NZL Ingrid Cronin-Knight (2008)
• WIN Stafanie Taylor (2008)
• NZL Victoria Lind (2009)
• NZL Saskia Bullen (2009)
• NZL Kelly Anderson (2011)
• NZL Katie Perkins (2012)
• NZL Maddy Green (2012)
• NZL Anna Peterson (2012)
• NZL Samantha Curtis (2014)
• NZL Holly Huddleston (2014)
• NZL Georgia Guy (2014)
• NZL Lauren Down (2018)
• SIN Neisha Pratt (2018)
• SAM Regina Lili'i (2019)
• NZL Brooke Halliday (2021)
• NZL Fran Jonas (2021)
• ENG Maia Bouchier (2021)
• NZL Molly Penfold (2021)
• IRE Arlene Kelly (2022)
• NZL Izzy Gaze (2022)
• NZL Bella Armstrong (2023)
• NZL Breearne Illing (2025)

Coaching staff

• Head coach & Talent ID Manager: Nick White
• Coach: Donovan Grobbelaar

Honours

• Hallyburton Johnstone Shield:
  • Winners (20): 1939–40, 1940–41, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1964–65, 1965–66, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2019–20
• Women's Super Smash:
  • Winners (1): 2013–14

References

References

1. "Auckland Women v England Women, 29 January 1935". CricketArchive.
2. "Hallyburton Johnstone Challenge Shield 1935–36". CricketArchive.
3. "Hallyburton Johnstone Challenge Shield 1939–40". CricketArchive.
4. "Hallyburton Johnstone Challenge Shield 1940–41". CricketArchive.
5. "Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 1946–47". CricketArchive.
6. "Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 1947–48". CricketArchive.
7. "Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 1948–49". CricketArchive.
8. "State Insurance Cup 1999–00". CricketArchive.
9. "State Insurance Cup 2000–01". CricketArchive.
10. "State League 2001–02". CricketArchive.
11. "State League 2002–03". CricketArchive.
12. "Australian Women's Cricket Championships 1959/60". CricketArchive.
13. Watkin, Evan. (October 2015). "The History of Women’s Domestic Cricket in New Zealand". [[Cricket Wellington]].
14. "Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2019–20". CricketArchive.
15. "Grand Final, Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2019–20, 14 March 2020". New Zealand Cricket.
16. "Grand Final, Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2020–21, 21 March 2020". New Zealand Cricket.
17. "Grand Final, NZC Women's Twenty20 Competition 2013–14, 26 January 2014". New Zealand Cricket.
18. "Women's First-Class Matches played by Auckland Women". CricketArchive.
19. "Women's List A Matches played by Auckland Women". CricketArchive.
20. "Women's Twenty20 Matches played by Auckland Women". CricketArchive.
21. "Women's Miscellaneous Matches played by Auckland Women". CricketArchive.
22. "Green and Halliday Join the Ranks; Gaze, Jonas and Penfold Secure Central Contracts Again". Auckland Cricket.
23. "Exciting Young Talent Awarded as Hearts 2023/24 Contracts Are Announced". Auckland Cricket.
24. "Auckland Women Players". CricketArchive.
25. "Auckland Cricket/Staff List". Auckland Cricket.