Former Australia wicketkeeper, vice-captain, and prominent cricket administrator Christina Matthews has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. She received the prestigious honor just before the start of the women's Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Matthews holds the record for the most Test appearances by an Australian woman, having played 20 matches, ranking sixth globally. She also holds the record for the most dismissals in women’s Test history, with 58 to her name. Her career spanned from 1984 to 1995, during which she also played 47 ODIs and was part of Australia’s victorious 1988 World Cup squad at the MCG.
She began her domestic career in Victoria and later played for New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Despite her remarkable on-field achievements, Matthews is best known for her lasting impact as a cricket administrator.
From 2007 to 2011, she served as a selector for Australia's women's team while working with Cricket NSW. In 2012, she became the Chief Executive Officer of WA Cricket, leading the organization through a transformative 12-year period. Under her leadership, WA and the Perth Scorchers secured multiple domestic trophies across both men's and women's competitions.
She played a pivotal role in stabilizing WA Cricket and forged strong partnerships with key figures such as coaches Justin Langer, Adam Voges, and cricket general manager Kade Harvey. Matthews also made significant contributions to the advancement of women’s cricket in Australia.
After stepping down as WA Cricket CEO, she was elected as the first female president of the Australian Cricketers' Association in December 2024. Earlier that year, she was honored as a Member of the Order of Australia for her service to cricket and her advocacy for women in the sport. Additionally, she holds honorary membership with the Melbourne Cricket Club and is a life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Matthews was presented with her Hall of Fame induction by Australian Cricket Hall of Fame chair Peter King outside the MCG, just 30 minutes before the toss on the opening day of the day-night Ashes Test.
Expressing her gratitude, Matthews acknowledged the support of her teammates, coaches, and family. "I had a choice of where this could be presented, and I didn’t hesitate to choose this historic occasion. Being from Melbourne, the MCG is an iconic ground, and to receive this honor here is truly incredible," she said.
She fondly recalled playing in the 1988 World Cup final at the same venue, describing the experience as a dream come true.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley praised Matthews for her immense contributions to Australian cricket.
"Christina’s remarkable contributions over the past 50 years have now been fittingly recognized," Hockley stated. "She was an exceptional wicketkeeper and vice-captain, holding Test records that still stand today. Beyond her playing career, she became a driving force in Australian cricket, spearheading transformative changes, particularly for the inclusion of women and girls."
Hockley also highlighted her influential leadership as WA Cricket CEO, where she oversaw a period of significant growth and success.
"Christina’s induction is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the first Women's Test match with this historic day-night Ashes Test at the MCG," he added.
Updated on 30th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.