Rachel Priest

A wicketkeeper-batsman who came through the ranks at Central Districts, Priest has become one of the cleanest hitters in the women's game

The Cricketer | 26/01/2020 at 18:27

Born: June 13, 1985

Role: Right-hand bat, wicketkeeper

A wicketkeeper-batsman who came through the ranks at Central Districts, Rachel Priest has become one of the cleanest hitters in the women’s game.

However, her international career appeared to have reached a total impasse.

Until she was handed a fresh national team contract in September 2019, she had not played for her country since the 2017 World Cup.

Coach Haidee Tiffen explained her prolonged absence as fitness-based.

However, Priest has been a regular destroyer of T20 leagues in England and Australia since then, enjoying successful stints with Western Storm and Sydney Thunder.

That is little surprise, given Priest’s own history; her 157 against Sri Lanka in 2015 is the eighth-highest individual score in women’s ODI history.

Her return to the international fold gives New Zealand a thrilling triumvirate of experience in their top order, with Priest, Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine boasting almost 600 White Ferns appearances between them.

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