Born: 1921 (Melbourne, Australia)
Died: 2010
Biography:
Betty Rebecca Wilson (21 November 1921 – 22 January 2010) was considered one of the greatest woman cricketers 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.
Early Life:
Born in Melbourne, Betty Wilson grew up in the inner neighborhood of Collingwood and developed her cricket skills 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 alongside adults. Wilson’s exceptional talent propelled her to the Victoria second XI at the age of just 14, and she made her way to the senior side at 16.
Cricket Career:
The outbreak of the Second World War delayed Betty Wilson’s Test appearances until 1948. On her debut against New Zealand, she showcased her proficiency by scoring 90 runs and taking 4/37 and 6/28 in bowling. In her second Test in 1949, she made history by scoring 111 against England, becoming the first Australian woman to score a Test century against England. Additionally, Wilson took nine more wickets in this match, making her the first woman cricketer to achieve the feat of scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in an innings of a Women’s Test match. This outstanding performance established her as a force to be reckoned with in women’s cricket.
Wilson’s success continued during her tour of England in 1951. In the first Test at Scarborough, she scored a remarkable 81 runs. In a match against Yorkshire, she played an exceptional innings of 100* runs in just 77 minutes, leading Australia to a last-ball victory. Following the series, Wilson decided to stay in England for two and a half years, leaving a lasting impact on the English cricket scene.
In the St. Kilda Test against England in 1957–58, Betty Wilson achieved yet another historic milestone. She became the first cricketer, male or female, to score a century and take 10 wickets in a Test match. Despite playing on a wet wicket, Wilson took 7/7 in the first innings, which included the first-ever hat-trick in a women’s Test. This extraordinary feat was not repeated until 2004 when Shaiza Khan of Pakistan accomplished the same. Wilson’s contributions extended beyond bowling as she also top-scored with 12 runs in Australia’s low first innings and scored a magnificent century in the second innings. Her bowling figures of 4/9 in 19 overs in the second innings set another record for the best bowling performance of 11/16 in a women’s Test match, a record that stood unbroken until 2004.
Throughout her career, Betty Wilson played 11 Tests, scoring 862 runs at an impressive average of 57.46 and taking 68 wickets at an astonishing average of 11.80. Her all-round abilities made her a key contributor to the success of the Australian women’s cricket team.
Awards:
– In 1985, Betty Wilson became the first woman cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the sport.
– In 1985–86, the Under-21 National Women’s Cricket Championship was renamed the Betty Wilson Shield in her honor, acknowledging her legacy as an inspiring figure for younger generations.
– In 1996–97, the age group of the championship was changed to Under-19 but the tournament name, Betty Wilson Shield, remained unchanged, ensuring that her name continues to inspire and motivate future women cricketers.
– In 2015, Betty Wilson was posthumously inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, cementing her status as one of the all-time greats of women’s cricket.
Betty Wilson’s remarkable skill, determination, and groundbreaking achievements have left an indelible mark on the history of women’s cricket and serve as an enduring inspiration for generations to come.