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Anna O'Leary
Biography
BiographyAnna O’Leary was born on 12 May 1978. She came from a cricketing family, and excelled at the sport since starting at the age of seven. She attended Upper Hutt College, and in December 1990 was picked for Wellington Women's Cricket second XI, and the under-20 development squad.
In June 1991 she was the Trentham United Harriers under-14 winner.
In December 1992 she was Upper Hutt College Sports Person of the Year, and was captain of the school’s cricket 1st XI. She played for New Zealand and captained the Wellington Secondary Schools' under-18 team, aged 15.
Aged 15, Anna was picked for the national development squad to train at the New Zealand Cricket Academy in Christchurch.
She was vice-captain of Wellington under-20 team and played for Taita District senior women's team.
Her father, Mike, was chairman of the Upper Hutt Junior Cricket Club for several terms; he and Anna’s mother, Christine, also each coached a club team.
Younger sister Emily, an all rounder, played for Sacred Heart College's First IX and was chosen for the Wellington Secondary Schools' third and fourth form team. Brothers Phillip and Oliver continued the family tradition being members of Upper Hutt Junior Cricket Club's premier team and Hutt Valley Development Squads. Phillip was a spin bowler and middle order batsman, while Oliver batted in the top order. Phillip had recently been chosen to attend elite coaching at Cambridge in August. The children also played a number of winter sports.
In December 1994 Anna was the joint winner (with Glen Falconer) of Upper Hutt College's Pepper Harefield Tungatt Trophy for outstanding achievement in sport. In January 1995 she was joint winner, Greater Wellington Secondary Schools Player of the year.
In March 1996, aged 17, she was the youngest player in a squad of 15 to tour England and Ireland; She had deliberately put off business studies at Massey University, hoping that she would be selected.
On 3 July 1996 she achieved a maiden first-class century for New Zealand; 105 against a President's eleven; more than half the team's score.
She appeared in an 'Leader' sports profile on 7 August 1996, after returning from England on July 24; she was the youngest player (18) in the New Zealand team, and had played at Lord's, in the final of three tests. New Zealand had drawn all three tests, and won all the one-day games.
She had been in the Wellington team for the previous two years, and had picked up two consecutive Shell Young Women's Cricketer of the Year awards.
In March 2001 she was named Upper Hutt Sportsperson (and Sportswoman) of the Year.
The April 17, 2002 'Leader' printed a wedding photo, taken at St Patrick's College Chapel; she had married another cricketer, Andrew Smith, who played for Petone Riverside; she played for Taita. Two cricket bats were brandished over them by members of the New Zealand women's cricket team. The couple were leaving for England.
In June 1991 she was the Trentham United Harriers under-14 winner.
In December 1992 she was Upper Hutt College Sports Person of the Year, and was captain of the school’s cricket 1st XI. She played for New Zealand and captained the Wellington Secondary Schools' under-18 team, aged 15.
Aged 15, Anna was picked for the national development squad to train at the New Zealand Cricket Academy in Christchurch.
She was vice-captain of Wellington under-20 team and played for Taita District senior women's team.
Her father, Mike, was chairman of the Upper Hutt Junior Cricket Club for several terms; he and Anna’s mother, Christine, also each coached a club team.
Younger sister Emily, an all rounder, played for Sacred Heart College's First IX and was chosen for the Wellington Secondary Schools' third and fourth form team. Brothers Phillip and Oliver continued the family tradition being members of Upper Hutt Junior Cricket Club's premier team and Hutt Valley Development Squads. Phillip was a spin bowler and middle order batsman, while Oliver batted in the top order. Phillip had recently been chosen to attend elite coaching at Cambridge in August. The children also played a number of winter sports.
In December 1994 Anna was the joint winner (with Glen Falconer) of Upper Hutt College's Pepper Harefield Tungatt Trophy for outstanding achievement in sport. In January 1995 she was joint winner, Greater Wellington Secondary Schools Player of the year.
In March 1996, aged 17, she was the youngest player in a squad of 15 to tour England and Ireland; She had deliberately put off business studies at Massey University, hoping that she would be selected.
On 3 July 1996 she achieved a maiden first-class century for New Zealand; 105 against a President's eleven; more than half the team's score.
She appeared in an 'Leader' sports profile on 7 August 1996, after returning from England on July 24; she was the youngest player (18) in the New Zealand team, and had played at Lord's, in the final of three tests. New Zealand had drawn all three tests, and won all the one-day games.
She had been in the Wellington team for the previous two years, and had picked up two consecutive Shell Young Women's Cricketer of the Year awards.
In March 2001 she was named Upper Hutt Sportsperson (and Sportswoman) of the Year.
The April 17, 2002 'Leader' printed a wedding photo, taken at St Patrick's College Chapel; she had married another cricketer, Andrew Smith, who played for Petone Riverside; she played for Taita. Two cricket bats were brandished over them by members of the New Zealand women's cricket team. The couple were leaving for England.
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Anna O'Leary. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 02/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25535