Promising young New Zealand women's player dies

New Zealand cricket has been rocked by the death today of promising fast bowler Frances King. She was 22.

King died of meningitis. A Wellington representative, she first came to light at a national level during her Wellington team's efforts at the national Under-21 tournament in 2001. She was awarded the Trish McKelvey Trophy presented to the most outstanding player of the tournament.

She was subsequently selected for the New Zealand A team's tour of Australia, winning full selection almost immediately for the White Ferns for the annual Rosebowl Series with Australia. She appeared in four of the six matches and was then chosen for New Zealand's tour of England, Ireland and the Netherlands last winter.

Last summer she was part of the New Zealand team that took part in the World Series of Cricket tournament at Lincoln University involving New Zealand, Australia, England and India. In her 15-match career she took 21 wickets at 19.23 with an economy rate of 3.73.

King was one of several younger players being groomed to defend New Zealand's World championship title at the 2005 tournament in South Africa. Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, said today, "The thoughts of all of New Zealand Cricket are with her family and friends at this very sad time. Frances was an extremely talented cricketer who excelled at all levels of the game. She was at the start of what would have undoubtedly been a long and successful career with the White Ferns.

"She was an outgoing, intelligent and ambitious young woman who had a fantastic life ahead of her. She will be sadly missed."