Betty Wilson
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Rebecca "Betty" Wilson ( 21 November 1921 – 22 January 2010) was considered one of the greatest woman cricket
players of all time. She represented Australia in Women's Test cricket
between 1947–48 and 1957-58. Wilson batted right-handed, and was a good off-spin bowler and a superb fielder.
Born in Melbourne
, Wilson grew up in the inner neighbourhood of Collingwood
and learned the game by playing against a lamp post in her street. At the age of 10, she joined the Collingwood Women's Cricket Club where she played with the adults. She made it to the Victoria
second XI at the age of 14, and to the senior side at 16.
The Second World War delayed her Test appearances till 1948. On her debut against New Zealand, she scored 90 and took 4/37 and 6/28. In her second Test, she scored 111 against England
becoming first the Australian woman to score a Test century against England, and took nine more wickets.
She toured England in 1951 and scored 81 in the first Test at Scarborough. Against Yorkshire, she scored 100* in 77 minutes, leading Australia to a last ball win. After this series, she stayed in England for two and a half years.
In the St.Kilda Test against England in 1957-58, she became the first cricketer, male or female, to score a 100 and take 10 wickets in a Test. On a wet wicket, she took 7/7 in the first innings which included the first ever hat trick in a women's Test. The feat was not repeated until Shaiza Khan
of Pakistan
did the same in 2004. She top scored with 12 in Australia's low first innings and a 100 in the second. Taking 4/9 in 19 overs in the second, she set another record for the best bowling of 11/16 in a match, which stood as a record till 2004.
Wilson played 11 Tests in her career scoring 862 runs at 57.46 and taking 68 wickets at 11.80.
In 1985, she became the first woman cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame. In 1985-86, the Under-21 National Women's Cricket Championship was renamed the Betty Wilson Shield. In 1996-97, the age group was changed to Under-19.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
players of all time. She represented Australia in Women's Test cricket
Women's Test cricket
Women's Test cricket is the longest format of women's cricket and is the gender equivalent to men's Test cricket. Matches comprise four-innings and are held over a maximum of four days between two of the leading cricketing nations...
between 1947–48 and 1957-58. Wilson batted right-handed, and was a good off-spin bowler and a superb fielder.
Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Wilson grew up in the inner neighbourhood of Collingwood
Collingwood, Victoria
Collingwood is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
and learned the game by playing against a lamp post in her street. At the age of 10, she joined the Collingwood Women's Cricket Club where she played with the adults. She made it to the Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
second XI at the age of 14, and to the senior side at 16.
The Second World War delayed her Test appearances till 1948. On her debut against New Zealand, she scored 90 and took 4/37 and 6/28. In her second Test, she scored 111 against England
English women's cricket team
The England women's cricket team played their first Test match in 1934–35, when they beat Australia 2–0 in a three-Test series. Their current captain is Charlotte Edwards, replacing Clare Connor after her five-year tenure, which she finished by leading England to their first Ashes series win since...
becoming first the Australian woman to score a Test century against England, and took nine more wickets.
She toured England in 1951 and scored 81 in the first Test at Scarborough. Against Yorkshire, she scored 100* in 77 minutes, leading Australia to a last ball win. After this series, she stayed in England for two and a half years.
In the St.Kilda Test against England in 1957-58, she became the first cricketer, male or female, to score a 100 and take 10 wickets in a Test. On a wet wicket, she took 7/7 in the first innings which included the first ever hat trick in a women's Test. The feat was not repeated until Shaiza Khan
Shaiza Khan
Shaiza Said Khan is a female cricket player from Pakistan. She is a member of the national Women's team in Pakistan and the Punjab Women Cricket Team.-References:*. URL accessed April 13, 2006.-See also:...
of Pakistan
Pakistani women's cricket team
The Pakistan national women's cricket team is a professional cricket team that represents Pakistan in international women's cricket matches.-1990s:...
did the same in 2004. She top scored with 12 in Australia's low first innings and a 100 in the second. Taking 4/9 in 19 overs in the second, she set another record for the best bowling of 11/16 in a match, which stood as a record till 2004.
Wilson played 11 Tests in her career scoring 862 runs at 57.46 and taking 68 wickets at 11.80.
In 1985, she became the first woman cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame. In 1985-86, the Under-21 National Women's Cricket Championship was renamed the Betty Wilson Shield. In 1996-97, the age group was changed to Under-19.