End of an era for Anna Peterson

After having signalled her retirement from WHITE FERNS cricket at the start of this summer, spinning allrounder Anna Peterson has now drawn a line under her decorated Domestic career as well.

Respected by teammates and opponents alike - and always bringing a dose of positivity and humour with her, Peterson bows out of the game after a richly rewarding career that took her from a Bay of Plenty teenager at Northern Districts fresh out of Aquinas College to 65 matches for the WHITE FERNS and multiple NZC trophies.

She played much of her formative cricket at Blake Park before becoming a regular Hallyburton Johnstone Shield champion and captain at the Auckland Hearts - and taking a famous T20 hat-trick for the WHITE FERNS against Australia, in Australia in 2017.

That magic moment - a match-winning performance when Australia had needed just 11 more runs - saw Peterson became the first WHITE FERN to take an international T20 hat-trick, and she was just the fourth in all international women's T20s.

Peterson announced her retirement yesterday after an injury-plagued final season for the Auckland Hearts.

"I've loved playing for the Hearts and representing this city over the past eight years," she said.

"So much has changed in the women's game since I started playing. It has been an honour to be part of such positive change and growth for women's cricket.

"The [Hearts] team has been like a second family for so long now and it will be sad to leave them, but I know, for me, the time is right.

"I'm looking forward to the next chapter and watching the exciting talent carve their own path with the Hearts."

Peterson exits having played 137 List A one-dayers in her overall career, more than 2000 runs scored, including a memorable century for the Hearts against Wellington Blaze.

She took 109 one-day wickets and, in 124 T20s, produced 1,450 runs and 96 wickets with a best of 4-11 for the Hearts against the team with whom she had made her start, Northern Spirit - now known as Northern Brave.

The 31-year-old debuted for Northern at her hometown ground, Bay Oval, just after New Year's Day in 2008, when she was just 17.

She claimed her maiden wicket that day against the Otago Sparks.

Number 11 in the line-up, she didn't get to bat - but, with her powerful drives and ability to launch the ball over the boundary, she would eventually become a key asset for teams at the opposite end of the batting order as a genuine and adaptable spinning allrounder.

Peterson's ND career spanned from 2008 until 2013/14, when the shift to Auckland accelerated her impact on the game.

That 2014/15 season was the first of four Hallyburton Johnstone Shield titles with the Hearts.

Peterson was instrumental in the Hearts' domination of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in a strong era, going on to win the national one-day trophy with her adopted team and playing in the Grand Finals in 2016 (won by the Hearts), 2017 (won by the Canterbury Magicians), 2019 (won by the Central Hinds), 2020 when the Hearts reclaimed the trophy, and 2021 (won by the Magicians).

The Domestic T20 silverware remained elusive, but a brilliant international hat-trick (with figures of 3-2) inked her name in the T20 recordbooks forever - even if stunned commentators got her name wrong at the time with mystery player Amy Patterson involved in the historic moment.

Known by her nickname "Wolfy" to all, Peterson was appointed captain of the Hearts in 2019/20 and has enjoyed seeing fresh new talent come through the ranks.

"A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and cheered me on over the past 15 years," Peterson added.

"A special thanks to Bay of Plenty Cricket, Northern Districts Cricket, and the amazing whanau at Auckland Cricket for your support and development of my career. And, to my family for sharing the highs and lows of this amazing game."

Auckland Cricket Director of Talent and Performance, Daniel Archer acknowledged Peterson's contribution to cricket in Auckland.

"Congratulations to Anna on what has been an outstanding career. It is a special thing as a sportsperson to know that you have been able to have an impact at the highest level during your career. 

"Anna, through her cricket and leadership, has contributed to the WHITE FERNS, Hearts and wider Auckland Cricket environments over many years. Auckland Cricket would like to thank Anna for those contributions and wish her all the very best for the future."

Hearts Head Coach Nick White also congratulated Peterson.

"Whether it be for Auckland University, the Hearts or the WHITE FERNS, Anna always brought the same caring attitude and passion to win

"Having been through many phases of the women's game, Anna has been an integral part of pushing the norm and ensuring the players get what they genuinely deserve.

"Anna leaves the game in a much better place as when she found it and she can be very proud of that. We thank Anna for everything she has done for the Auckland environment, both on and off the field."

STATCHAT

ANNA PETERSON • List A one-day career

ANNA PETERSON • T20 career