Lakshmi Rajadurai

Lakshmi Rajadurai
Personal information
Full name
Lakshmi Kila Rajadurai
Born (2009-01-06) 6 January 2009 (age 15)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
International information
National side
ODI debut (cap 4)24 March 2024 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI11 August 2024 v Scotland
Source: Cricinfo, 7 October 2024

Lakshmi Kila Rajadurai (born 6 January 2009) is a Papua New Guinean cricketer. In March 2024, she was named in Papua New Guinea's squad for the Zimbabwean tour, which included Papua New Guinea's first ever Women's ODI matches.[1][2] She made her ODI debut on 24 March 2024.[3]

Background

Lakshmi's father Kuhaseelan Rajadurai is from Sri Lanka while her mother Karo Rigolo is from Kaparoko in Rigo District. Her father Kuhaseelan is an accountant while her mother is a casual worker who performs charities. Kuhaseelan, originally from Sri Lanka, has been staying in Papua New Guinea since 1982. He played for POM team in Papua New Guinean domestic cricket and served as National Treasurer of Cricket PNG from 2005 to 2014. Lakshmi is a life member of Cricket PNG.

She began playing from the age of 7 in boys only competitions.[4] She studies in Hills Sports High School in Sydney and represents New South Wales in Combined High Schools cricket.[5] She was also selected for Sydney West cricket team.[6]

Career

At the age of 10, Rajadurai got selected to play for New South Wales Under-13 team, and was later selected to play for their Under-15 team. She went on to play for the Paramatta Women's Grade Cricket Club in the Brewer Shield in Sydney.[7] She was the leading wicket-taker in the Under-16 Australian Female National Championships in 2024, with 15 wickets at an average of 8.33.[8] In December 2023, she played for Papua New Guinea Under-23s in the Australian National Women's Under-19 Championships. Cricket New South Wales were extremely supportive in her aspirations to play for Papua New Guinea.

On 24 March 2024, she made her ODI debut against Zimbabwe at the age of 15, becoming the youngest Papua New Guinean women's cricketer to play for the national team.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Lewas Unveil Squad for Zimbabwe- UAE Tour". Loop PNG. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. ^ ICC (26 March 2024). "PNG impress against Zimbabwe in their first-ever official Women's ODI". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  3. ^ "ZIM-W vs PNG-W Cricket Scorecard, 1st ODI at Harare, March 24, 2024". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b Negri, Marcia (21 March 2024). "Fifteen-year-old to debut with PNG Lewas". Post Courier. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Hill Sports High School on Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  6. ^ De Carli, Amanda. "The Hills Sports High School Newsletter - NSW Government" (PDF). Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Future Stars: 33 girls to watch in U18s Brewer Shield cricket". Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  8. ^ "NSW secure second and third place at U16 Female National Championships | Cricket NSW". www.cricketnsw.com.au. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.