CA honours Belinda Clarke with a sculpture at SCG

Belinda Clarke with her sculpture [Source: Twitter]

Cricket Australia has honoured legendary Women's Cricketer Belinda Clarke by unveiling her statue at the SCG. 

Clarke becomes the first-ever Woman and fifth overall cricketer after Fred Spofforth, Richie Benaud, Stan McCabe and Steve Waugh as cricketers honoured with sculptures in the SCG precinct. 

The statue, believed to be the first such honour afforded any women's cricketer in the world, was unveiled by The Hon. Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO and NSW Premier, the Hon. Dominic Perrottet MP during a ceremony on the morning of Day 2 of the SCG Test.

In his reaction, Cricket Australia chief Mr Nick Hockley said, 

"I am absolutely thrilled that Belinda Clark has been honoured with a sculpture in the SCG precinct and becomes the first female cricketer to receive this recognition. Belinda not only compiled a superb playing record for Australia as a batter and captain; she helped inspire the current generation of cricketers and, as an administrator, has had a profound impact on community cricket and the growth in participation,

"On behalf of Australian Cricket, I would like to congratulate Belinda whose sculpture will stand very proudly alongside all the other sporting greats recognised in the SCG precinct. I would also like to thank the SCG Heritage Trust and their generous benefactors who have, in consultation with CA's Recognition of Women in Cricket working group, made this historic sculpture a reality."

Clarke, an ICC and Australian halls of fame inductee, is known as the greatest-ever batter in Women's Cricket. Regarded as a run-machine, she amassed 4844 runs, including the first-ever double hundred, in 118 ODI appearances. 

Additionally, Clarke was an astute tactician, leading Australia Women in 101 matches, including two World Cup titles in 1997 and 2005. 

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