Emma Sampson broke into the Australian side at just 18. Her graduation into the senior team, then, surprised few in South Australia and Cathryn Fitzpatrick described Sampson as "exciting" and said she had the skills to take the new ball for some time to come, while building up her strength and ultimately bowling faster. Although her international debut was hardly a dream start with Australia being beaten by New Zealand for the first time in three years, Australia had the last laugh in the final of February's Quadrangular series and Sampson chipped in with 1 for 29 from 8 overs. She got the Player of the Series award in Australia's series squeak over New Zealand in 2008. But she shocked the cricketing world by retiring after the World Cup - where she took just two wickets from four games - in March at the age of 23. Sampson said she planned to travel and work overseas for an unspecified amount of time and that her decision was not influenced by Australias poor show in the tournament
Alan Curr March 2009