Former all-rounder Australian captain and multiple times World Cup winner Lisa Sthalekar got into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame on Friday.
Lisa Sthalekar made her international debut in 2001 against England. She had played 125 ODIs, 54 T20Is, and 8 Tests, scoring 2728 runs, 769 runs, and 416 runs while picking up 146 wickets, 60 wickets, and 43 wickets in the, respectively. Consequently, she went on to establish herself as one of the greatest all-rounders of all time.
The off-spinning all-rounder is the first women cricketer to reach the milestone of 1,000 runs. She is also the first women cricketer to dismiss 100 wickets in ODIs.
The former Australia skipper has led her team to four World Cup victories and two Belinda Clark Awards. She has an impeccable record in domestic cricket as well having led the New South Wales to five tournament titles.
The 41-year old hung her boots after clinching the 2013 Women’s World Cup title, putting an end to an illustrious 12-year long career that played a vital role in shaping the Australian women cricket.
“Lisa Sthlalekar comfortably sits at the table of Women’s cricket trailblazers alongside Belinda Clark, Karen Rolton and Melanie Jones, and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is delighted to welcome her as the latest inductee,” said Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman.
“As the Australian Women’s Cricket Team conquers all before them, it has been Lisa’s passion and skill as a cricketer and her courage and determination in her post-cricket career, that has driven elite standards of professionalism in the Women’s game. She left the sport as a four-time World Cup winner and a plethora of personal accolades, but has continued to advocate and champion the Women’s game as an administrator, commentator and ambassador.”
Cricket Australia board member Lisa Sthalekar’s former teammate Mel Jones said, “Lisa thoroughly deserves to be inducted in the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. She now rightfully sits among the absolute elite cricketers of the women’s game, joining Belinda Clark, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Betty Wilson and Karen Rolton as members of both the Australian and ICC Cricket Halls of Fame.”