Recently, Rario, which is the world’s first officially licensed cricket digital collectibles platform, signed a historic deal with Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association which would help the NFT (non-fungible tokens) platform connect with over a billion cricket fans globally. Through this deal, it will be possible for Rario to convert the special moments of Cricket Australia into NFTs which the fans can exclusively own.
So, which could be some of the memorable moments that Rario can try to capture in the digital form, which is nothing but the NFTs and you get an opportunity to own them? Here is a list of the top 10 moments from Cricket Australia.
1. Stella Campbell’s 7-25 in WNCL
During the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2021-22, a domestic tournament played in Australia, Stella Campbell recorded the second best figures in the 25-year history of the competition when she claimed 7-25 in eight overs at Manuka Oval on January 6, 2022. The 19-year-old right arm speedster from New South Wales achieved the feat against ACT Meteors during the 50-over domestic competition.
2. Darcie Brown’s hat-trick in WBBL|07
On October 24, 2021, Darcie Brown bagged a hat-trick against the Brisbane Heat at Launceston. The right arm quick bowler from Adelaide Strikers wreaked havoc with the ball in the sixth over of the match when she sent Georgia Redmayne, Ellie Johnston and Laura Kimmince packing in the latter half of the over. Though Brisbane Heat ended up on the losing side, Brown’s hat-trick was the silver lining for the team.
3. Alyssa Healy scores the fastest 100 for Australia in T20Is
Alyssa Healy holds the record for the fastest hundred in a T20I for Australia, across men and women. The devastating opening batter muscled a century off just 46 balls against Sri Lanka in Sydney on October 2, 2019. Healy went on to score an unbeaten 148 off 61 balls and also won the player of the match. She plundered 19 boundaries and seven sixes during her blitzkrieg.
4. Megan Schutt’s hat-trick in a T20I
Megan Schutt, who is the leader of the Australian pace attack is the only player for Australia to take a hat-trick in a women’s T20I. On March 26, 2018, Schutt struck with 3-31 in four overs against India during a tri-nation series that was played in India which also included England. Schutt accounted for the wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj on the last two balls of the second over and that of Deepti Sharma on the first ball of the fifth over. While Mandhana and Raj were clean bowled, Sharma was out caught. Schutt won the player of the match for her bowling.
5. Megan Schutt’s hat-trick in an ODI
This Australian pace ace is the only bowler for Australia to take a hat-trick in a women’s ODI. She struck with 3-24 in 10 overs against West Indies at North Sound. Schutt achieved the feat in the third ODI of the bilateral series that was played on September 11, 2019. It was a dramatic end to the West Indian innings as Schutt picked up the last three wickets on the last three balls of the 50th over. Schutt, who was wicket-less till then, got rid of Chinelle Henry, Karishma Ramharack and Afy Fletcher, making them her hat-trick victims.
6. Ellyse Perry’s 213* against England in a Test match
Ellyse Perry holds the record of the highest runs in a Test innings for Australia. The right handed middle order batter mustered an unbeaten 213 off 374 balls against England in a day/night Test that was played from November 9 to November 12 in 2017 in Sydney. Perry came in to bat in the 32nd over and was there till the time Australia declared their innings. She was there in the middle for as many as 131.5 overs.
7. Ellyse Perry’s 7-22 against England in an ODI
Ellyse Perry holds the record for best bowling figures by an Australian in a women’s ODI. The right arm seamer clinched 7-22 in 10 overs, including one maiden, against England in a bilateral series. She achieved the feat on July 7, 2019 in Canterbury. Opening the bowling for Australia, Perry rattled the opposition with her bowling brilliance. She accounted for seven out of the 10 wickets.
8. Alyssa Healy and Meg Lanning highest partnership for Australia for the 2nd wicket in WODIs
On September 5, 2019, Australia’s captain Meg Lanning and opening batter Alyssa Healy put together 225 runs for the second wicket against West Indies at Coolidge during the bilateral series. After losing Rachael Haynes on the very first ball of the match, Healy and Lanning came together to steady the Australian ship. In the process, Healy smashed 122 runs off 105 balls, while Lanning mustered 121 runs off 146 balls.
9. Grace Harris scores the fastest century in WBBL history
In the WBBL history, the fastest century has been scored by Grace Harris off just 42 balls. The Brisbane Heat opening batter thrashed Melbourne Stars during her blitzkrieg on December 19, 2018 in Brisbane. Her innings was laced with 13 boundaries and half a dozen sixes. She stitched a 138-run partnership with her opening partner Beth Mooney in just 10.5 overs. Harris dominated the partnership scoring 101 runs while Mooney played the perfect second fiddle registering 28 runs off 25 balls.
10. Alyssa Healy records the highest WT20I score for Australia
Australia’s swashbuckling right handed opening batter plundered a blistering 148 not out off 61 balls against Sri Lanka in the third T20I of the bilateral series on October 2, 2019 at Sydney. Healy’s innings was embellished with 19 boundaries and seven sixes. With her powerful stroke making, she guided Australia to 2-226 in 20 overs against a listless Sri Lankan bowling attack.
So, out of these 10 special moments of Cricket Australia, for which of these would you like to get an exclusive cricket NFT?
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.