Michael Rae Biography: Birthday, Career, Stats and Records

Michael Rae is a New Zealand cricketer who has played Test cricket and represents Canterbury domestically.

Michael Rae was born on 13 June 1995 in Dunedin, New Zealand. A right‑arm seam bowler, he has built his career in the domestic circuit, representing Otago before moving to Canterbury. His consistent wicket‑taking ability earned him a place in New Zealand’s Test side, where he debuted in December 2025. Rae’s early promise was evident from his performances in the Plunket Shield and the Ford Trophy, where he recorded standout figures.

In his brief Test career, Rae has taken eight wickets at an average of 28.25, with best figures of 3 for 45, and scored 13 runs. Domestically, he was joint‑leading wicket‑taker for Otago in 2017‑18 with 29 wickets, and posted a 7 for 35 spell in the 2020 Ford Trophy, the third‑best List A figures in New Zealand. These performances have highlighted his ability to take wickets in both the longer and limited‑overs formats.

Michael Rae: quick facts

Born: 13 June 1995, Dunedin
Team: New Zealand

Michael Rae career statistics

Batting

Format	Matches	Innings	Runs	Highest	Average	Strike rate	100s	50s
Tests	2	1	13	13	13.00	118.18	0	0

Bowling

Format	Matches	Wickets	Best	Average	Economy
Tests	2	8	3/45	28.25	3.46

Figures as of 13 November 2026. Figures from Cricsheet (cricsheet.org), Open Data Commons Attribution licence.

Michael Rae’s early life

Michael David Rae was born on 13 June 1995 in Dunedin, a city on New Zealand’s South Island. He was raised in the region, which has a strong cricketing tradition, and began playing the sport at a young age, progressing through local age‑group teams before entering the senior domestic circuit. He attended local schools where he represented the school side in inter‑school competitions, showcasing his developing bowling skills.

Rae made his List A debut for a New Zealand XI against Pakistan on 3 January 2018, marking his entry into higher‑level cricket. Earlier that season he had been a regular feature for Otago in the Plunket Shield, and his performances earned him selection for the New Zealand A side later that year. His early displays of swing and accuracy with the ball attracted attention from national selectors, setting the foundation for his subsequent domestic contracts.

Michael Rae’s domestic career

Rae is a first‑class cricketer for Canterbury, having previously represented Otago in New Zealand’s domestic competitions. In the 2017–18 Plunket Shield season he finished as the joint‑leading wicket‑taker for Otago, claiming 29 dismissals across ten matches, a performance that secured him a contract for the 2018–19 season. His consistent line and length, combined with the ability to extract movement off the pitch, made him a valuable asset in New Zealand’s seam bowling pool.

In June 2020 Rae was offered a renewed contract by Otago ahead of the 2020–21 season, and his form continued to improve. On 6 December 2020, during the third round of the Ford Trophy, he recorded figures of 7 for 35 from ten overs – the third‑best performance in a New Zealand domestic List A match. He followed this with a hat‑trick against Central Districts in March 2021 during the Plunket Shield, further cementing his reputation as a strike bowler.

Rae’s consistent performances earned him a contract renewal with Otago in June 2018 for the 2018–19 season, and again in June 2020 ahead of the 2020–21 campaign. These contracts reflected the confidence the province placed in his developing skill set and his importance to the team's bowling attack. He was also selected for the New Zealand A side in November 2020, providing him exposure to international opposition and further honing his abilities.

Michael Rae’s international career

Rae made his Test debut for New Zealand against the West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on 10 December 2025. He featured again in the second Test of the series on 18 December 2025, completing a brief but eventful introduction to the longest format. His selection came after strong domestic performances, and he was tasked with contributing both with the ball and lower‑order batting.

Across his two Tests, Rae scored 13 runs in a single innings at an average of 13 and a strike rate of 118.18, while his bowling yielded eight wickets at an average of 28.25 and an economy of 3.46. His best figures of 3 for 45 came in his debut match, and he also took two catches in the field.

In addition to his bowling, Rae contributed in the field with two catches across his two Tests, demonstrating reliable hands in the slip cordon. While his batting opportunities were limited, his quick scoring rate of 118.18 indicated an ability to add valuable runs lower down the order when required. His disciplined line also helped maintain pressure during long spells sessions.

Michael Rae’s records and achievements

Rae’s most notable international bowling performance is his 3 for 45 against the West Indies at Wellington in December 2025, which remains his best Test figures to date. In domestic cricket, his 7 for 35 in a Ford Trophy match in December 2020 stands as the third‑best List A bowling figures ever recorded in New Zealand. The spell demonstrated his ability to maintain pressure and take wickets in the middle overs, earning widespread praise from commentators.

During the 2017–18 Plunket Shield season, Rae was the joint‑leading wicket‑taker for Otago, claiming 29 wickets in ten matches, a feat that contributed to his securing of contracts for subsequent seasons. He also recorded a hat‑trick against Central Districts in March 2021, further highlighting his knack for delivering breakthrough deliveries. These achievements have placed him among the prominent seam bowlers in New Zealand’s domestic circuit, and they underline his potential for further milestones, such as reaching 50 Test wickets, should he maintain his current form. Continued performances in the domestic circuit will be crucial for retaining his place in the international squad.