Upminster Cricket Club is pleased to announce that New Zealander Emma Black will be joining the club for the 2026 season. Emma, who is from Dunedin, will arrive in Upminster in late May, after touring Sri Lanka with the New Zealand A squad.

Emma plays for Otago Sparks within the New Zealand domestic structure and has been one of the leading bowlers in the List A and T20 competitions for a number of years. Having toured England previously with the New Zealand A side Emma already has experience of English conditions which will be invaluable for the season ahead.

Women’s 1st XI Co-Captain Zoe Quested is excited for Black’s arrival in the coming weeks: “It’s brilliant to have Emma join us for this season. It will be great to have a bowler with so much experience at a high level with us this year, and someone who can support the girls and pass on her knowledge of the game."

As well as playing for the Women’s 1st XI, Emma will also be involved with other aspects of the club during her stay, something Quested was also pleased about: “Emma will be coaching the younger girls this year too. I hope they can all learn a lot from her and aspire to play abroad or at a high level themselves one day.”

Everyone associated with the club looks forward to welcoming Emma to Upminster next month and we wish her all the best for the tour of Sri Lanka and for the summer ahead.

**Image courtesy of CricX - The Cricket Exchange Agency