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“Molly Penfold has raw, fast-bowling talent. She brings a desire to learn about her game and a willingness to work hard and absorb new information,” is what Jacob Oram said when the young pacer was added to the New Zealand squad to tour England. Born in London, Penfold hails from a British family – but doesn’t actually have a New Zealand passport. Her family shifted to Aotearoa in Auckland, in the initial years of her life. Aged at five, she started playing backyard cricket with her older sister. And a 12-year-old Penfold started playing for Auckland at representative levels. The London born always had the ability to bowl fast and make the opposition batters uncomfortable. At the age of 13, she clicked 109 kmph - however, that was recorded on the Machine Road phone app. The pacer, then, started taking the sport seriously and took some impeccable hops. Penfold kept representing Auckland at age-group levels, before getting picked for Auckland Hearts in August 2020. The emerging star didn’t take too long and soon earned her maiden call-up for White Ferns. The following year, in April, Penfold was added to the T20I squad for the series against Australia. In August 2021, she replaced an injured Rosemary Mair in the limited-overs squad to play England. These tours will benefit the pacer and provide her with unparalleled exposure. (As of September 2021)
