Canberra’s first Women’s Ashes will be played on the shoulders of giants

The hosting of the Ashes Test in the ACT rests on the shoulders of many great players who have significantly contributed to women’s cricket in Canberra. Although this list is far from exhaustive, it does give a glimpse into the depth and breadth of cricket talent.

In 2006 Bronwyn Calver came out of retirement to play for the ACT Meteors. Fittingly, she won the Bronwyn Calver Medal for the Meteors Best player.

Bronwyn took seven wickets for two runs against South Australia in her final match. The two runs scored off her bowling that day were wides.

But her performance that day wouldn’t have been a surprise to many, particularly those who faced her in her prime on Saturdays in the men’s competition. Equally, the women who faced her bowling on Sundays in the women’s competition knew too well how lethal her bowling could be.

Bronwyn played in two World Cups for Australia, including the victorious 1997 squad. At the 1993 World Cup, she captured four for four against the West Indies.

And her cricket career doesn’t stop there. Bronwyn has been the women’s statistician for Cricket Australia and the online scorer at Manuka Oval.

In 2013, Bronwyn’s contribution to cricket was recognised when she was inducted into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame. In 2019, Bronwyn was also inducted into the Cricket ACT Hall of Fame; in 2020, she became a life member of ACT Cricket.

No ACT Cricket award night would be complete without mentioning another pioneer of women’s cricket, Glenda Hall.

The Glenda Hall Player of the Year trophy and the Glenda Hall bowling award are notable and significant awards presented in the ACT. Teams also compete for the Glenda Hall Shield and the Lynne O’Meara Premiership Cup.

Glenda was inducted into the ACT Cricket Hall of Fame in 2019.

She played two tests and two one-day internationals for Australia as a right-handed bat and a right arm leg spinner. Her international career began in 1984 when she represented Australia against India.

Former ACT captain Kris Britt played 17 one-day internationals and a test as an all-rounder. Following the 2010-11 Women’s National Cricket League season, Kris was named WNCL Player of the Series.

She made her test and one-day international debuts in 2003 and her T20 debut in 2007. In the WNCL 2006-07 season, when Kris was playing for the South Australian team, the Scorpions, she was named player of the season.

Another significant contributor to women’s cricket in the ACT was Lynette Cook, who played two one-day internationals for Australia in 1987. She played for the ACT from 1982 to 1990 in the Australian Women’s Cricket Championships.

Jodie Davis is another to make her mark in Canberra cricket, being selected for the Australian team and playing a one-day international in 1988. Jodie also coached Pakistan and represented the ACT in both baseball and broomball.

At age 18, Marjorie Moore led the ACT cricket side in 1934-35 against the touring England women’s team. In 1935-36, she was selected as vice-captain of the NSW cricket team in the Australian Women’s Cricket Championships.

During the 1935-36 Country Championships season, Marjorie took 16 wickets in two matches. In 1937, Marjorie was ineligible to join the Australian team’s tour of England due to her youth. The minimum age limit for touring players was 21 years.

As well as her incredible playing feats, Marjorie was also President of the Federal Capital Territory’s Women’s Cricket Association. She was inducted into the ACT Cricket Hall of Fame in 2021.

Without the contribution made by these pioneers of women’s cricket, there’s a fair chance Manuka wouldn’t be preparing to host an Ashes Test.

Manuka will host the Women’s Ashes from 27 to 30 January. Tickets through Ticketek.