Laura Harper

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Laura Harper
female = true


country = England
fullname = Laura Julyen Harper
nickname =
living = true
dayofbirth = 22
monthofbirth = 1
yearofbirth = 1984
placeofbirth = Plymouth, Devon
countryofbirth = England
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-hand bat
bowling = Right-arm off break
role =
international = true
testdebutdate = 24 June
testdebutyear = 2001
testdebutagainst = Australia women
testc

lasttestdate = 21 November
lasttestyear = 2005
lasttestagainst = India women
odidebutdate = 19 July
odidebutyear = 1999
odidebutagainst = Netherlands women
odic

lastodidate = 1 December
lastodiyear = 2005
lastodiagainst = India women
odishirt =
club1 = Somerset Women
year1 = 2000-2006
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 6
runs1 = 182
bat avg1 = 22.75
100s/50s1 = 0/0
top score1 = 31
deliveries1 = 1026
wickets1 = 11
bowl avg1 = 35.63
fivefor1 = 1
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 5-66
catches/stumpings1 = 3/–
column2 = ODIs
matches2 = 25
runs2 = 197
bat avg2 = 15.15
100s/50s2 = 0/0
top score2 = 41
deliveries2 = 1087
wickets2 = 33
bowl avg2 = 16.30
fivefor2 = 1
tenfor2 = n/a
best bowling2 = 5-12
catches/stumpings2 = 5
date = 19 February
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/11/11161/11161.html cricketarchive

Laura Julyen Harper (born 22 January 1984 in Plymouth, Devon) is an international cricketer who plays for the England women's cricket team. At the time of her debut, she was the youngest player to have played for England.

She made her Test cricket debut against Australia at Shenley in 2001 and last appeared against India in Delhi in 2005. In 6 test matches she scored 182 runs at 22.75 with a best of 31 and took 11 wickets bowling off spin at 35.63 with a best of 5 for 66.

She has played 25 one day internationals, scoring 195 runs at 15.15 with a top score of 41 and taking 33 wickets at the excellent average of 16.3 with a best analysis of 5 for 12. She made her One-day International debut against the Netherlands in 1999 in the Women's European Championships at the tender age of 15 and won the player of the match award for a remarkable spell of 5 for 12. She also played in the World Cup in New Zealand in December 2000.

She earned her first international call-ups whilst studying for her GCSE examinations at Truro School and played whilst studying A-levels at Truro College, Cornwall. [Lusher, Adam. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/05/14/ncric14.html Schoolgirl of 16 bowled over by being youngest to bat for England] , 2000-05-14, The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/womens_world_cup/1023486.stm School's out for Harper] , 2000-11-23, BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.] She plays her regional cricket for Somerset Women, for whom she made her debut in 2001. She played with the Braves from 2002 to 2003, the Super Strikers from 2004 to 2005 and the Emeralds in 2006 in the 'Super Fours' elite women competition. She also appeared for England under-21s Women in 2004. She started playing cricket aged eight and began bowling off spin at ten. She played with Cornwall boys U-11s and progressed through the age groups, touring South Africa in 1997. She was selected for an England boys U-15 trial but chose to play for Somerset in the Women's County Championship instead.

References

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/53707.html Cricinfo Profile]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/11/11161/11161.html Cricket Archive Statistics]
* [http://www.webbsoc.demon.co.uk/harper.htm Profile and photos]