'Female Bradman' Betty Wilson dies

Australian cricketer Betty Wilson, dubbed the 'female Bradman' for her cricketing prowess passed away at the age of 88.

Wilson was a household name in post-war Australia, and in 11 Test matches between 1947-48 and 1957-58 she averaged 57.46 as a batter and took 68 wickets with her off-breaks, at an average of 11.80. 

Wilson had an immediate impact in her international career, as she made 90 and took 10 wickets in her debut game against New Zealand in 1948.

A decade later, 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 for 7 in the first innings, which included the first ever hat trick in a women's Test.

She top scored with 12 in Australia's low first innings and a 100 in the second. Taking 4 for 9 in 19 overs in the second, she set another record for the best bowling of 11 for 16 in a match, which stood as a record till 2004.

In 1985, she became the first woman cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Sporting Hall of Fame, and her name adorns the trophy for the national under-21 female championships.

"She would be well and truly top of the legends list," The Australian quoted Belinda Clark, former Australian women's captain, as saying.

"There was a lot happening in Australia in the '40s and '50s, but everyone knew who she was and these were times when you'd get 20,000 to watch a women's match and they were all there to watch Betty - she was the star," she added.

Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke said Wilson was highly regarded as a pioneer in women's cricket and a player of rare skill and work ethic.