One of Australia’s best cricketers has been inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame, becoming the fifth Australian woman to achieve the honour and the 27th Australian. She becomes the ninth woman overall to be inducted into ICC Cricket’s annual recognition of the world’s best cricketers beginning in 2009.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would ever get to join such an illustrious group of players,” Sthalekar said on a show on the ICC digital channels. “I was fortunate enough to learn from the best when I entered the Australia team — Belinda Clark, Karen Rolton and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, all of whom have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and rightly so.”
In her decade long career as an all-rounder, Sthalekar scored a total of 3,913 runs, claimed 229 wickets, appeared in eight Tests, over 120 one-day internationals and 54 Twenty20 internationals for Australia.
“The guidance from them and other teammates along the way kept me focused but also ensured that it was a fun environment,” Sthalekar said.
Cricket Australia (CA) CA chairman Earl Eddings congratulated Sthalekar in a statement, describing Sthalekar as a “legend of Australian and international cricket.”
“This honour from the ICC recognises that. On behalf of everyone in the Australian cricket family, we congratulate Lisa on a wonderful accolade.”
Sthalekar was part of the Australian team which took out the World Cup in 2005 and 2013, and now coaches cricket professionally.
The Indian born cricketer is no stranger to national commendations. In 2007 and 2008, she was awarded the Belinda Clark Medal; the prize recognising Australia’s best female international cricketer.
Sthalekar retired in 2013 and has since become a broadcast commentator. She also serves on the board of the Australian Cricketers’ Association. Previous female cricketers include Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Betty Wilson, Karen Rolton and Belinda Clarke.