Overview
Lesley Jean Murdoch ONZM MBE (ne Shankland, born 18 March 1956) is a former New Zealand cricketer and field hockey player. Between 1979 and 1990 she played in six women’s Test matches and 25 women’s one-day internationals as a batsman. Murdoch captained New Zealand in three Tests against Australia, drawing two and losing one. She won eight of the 15 ODIs she captained, losing six times, with one “no result”. She was a member of the New Zealand women’s hockey team that finished sixth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
In the 1987 New Year Honours, Murdoch was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to cricket and hockey. In the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport.
Murdoch is currently a commentator for Sky Network Television calling netball, hockey and cricket. She also is a sideline reporter for Radio Sport during rugby matches at AMI Stadium and hosts a Saturday morning sports show on Christchurch’s Newstalk ZB.