Laura MacLeod

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2012}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Laura MacLeod

| female = true

| image =

| caption = Laura MacLeod, Director of Womens Cricket, Central Sparks

| country = England

| fullname = Laura Kelly MacLeod

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|11|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Nantwich, Cheshire, England

| nickname =

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium
Right-arm off break

| role = All-rounder

| family =

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1997–2007

| testdebutdate = 15 July

| testdebutyear = 1999

| testdebutagainst = India

| testcap = 126

| lasttestdate = 29 August

| lasttestyear = 2006

| lasttestagainst = India

| odidebutdate = 27 August

| odidebutyear = 1997

| odidebutagainst = South Africa

| odicap = 74

| lastodidate = 5 March

| lastodiyear = 2007

| lastodiagainst = India

| odishirt =

| T20Idebutdate = 5 August

| T20Idebutyear = 2004

| T20Idebutagainst = New Zealand

| lastT20Idate = 5 August

| lastT20Iyear = 2006

| lastT20Iagainst = India

| T20Icap = 7

| club1 = Lancashire and Cheshire

| year1 = 1995–1997

| club2 = Cheshire

| year2 = 1999–2000

| club3 = Staffordshire

| year3 = 2002

| club4 = Lancashire

| year4 = 2003–2006

| club5 = Cheshire

| year5 = 2008–2009

| club6 = Cheshire

| year6 = 2016

| club7 = Lancashire Thunder

| year7 = 2016

| columns = 4

| column1 = WTest

| matches1 = 13

| runs1 = 448

| bat avg1 = 21.33

| 100s/50s1 = 1/2

| top score1 = 103

| deliveries1 = 925

| wickets1 = 12

| bowl avg1 = 33.91

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/10

| catches/stumpings1 = 13/–

| column2 = WODI

| matches2 = 73

| runs2 = 1,324

| bat avg2 = 20.68

| 100s/50s2 = 0/9

| top score2 = 79

| deliveries2 = 1,369

| wickets2 = 19

| bowl avg2 = 51.21

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 2/17

| catches/stumpings2 = 27/–

| column3 = WT20I

| matches3 = 3

| runs3 = 32

| bat avg3 = 10.66

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 24

| deliveries3 = 24

| wickets3 = 0

| bowl avg3 = –

| fivefor3 = –

| tenfor3 = –

| best bowling3 = –

| catches/stumpings3 = 2/–

| column4 = WLA

| matches4 = 170

| runs4 = 3,802

| bat avg4 = 25.17

| 100s/50s4 = 2/24

| top score4 = 162*

| deliveries4 = 5,323

| wickets4 = 110

| bowl avg4 = 30.54

| fivefor4 = 2

| tenfor4 = 0

| best bowling4 = 5/22

| catches/stumpings4 = 68/–

| date = 20 February 2021

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8460/8460.html CricketArchive

}}

Laura Kelly MacLeod (was Newton; 27 November 1977) is an English former cricketer who played as a right-handed batter and off break bowler.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/53702.html |title=Laura Newton | Cricket Players and Officials |work=ESPNcricinfo|date= |accessdate=2014-05-08}} She appeared in 13 Test matches, 73 WODIs and 3 WT20Is games for the English women's cricket team. She played domestic cricket for Lancashire and Cheshire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Lancashire and Lancashire Thunder.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8460/8460.html |title=Player Profile: Laura Newton|work=CricketArchive|date= |accessdate=2020-02-21}}

MacLeod was born in Nantwich, Cheshire. She made her one-day international debut in 1997 against South Africa and her Test debut in 1999 against India before touring Australia. She scored one test century and nine one day half centuries and developed over her career from a middle order batter to an opener. She took 12 test wickets and 19 in one day internationals, changing bowling styles from medium pace to off spin over time.

MacLeod was part of the 2005 Ashes winning squad{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Tom |date=14 June 2023 |title=England's overlooked 2005 Ashes Win: Everyone Thought We Were WAGS |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65876708}} before retiring from the international game in May 2007.