World Cup-winning skipper Belinda Clark has etched her name further into Australian sporting history, becoming one of the few icons to be recognised at the highest level.
The former Australia captain, celebrated for her leadership, record-breaking batting career, and her influential role in shaping the women’s game off the field, has now been elevated to the prestigious ‘Legend’ tier of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Clark is only the sixth cricketer to attain this honour, regarded as the ultimate recognition for an athlete in Australia. The accolade reflects not just her excellence on the pitch, but also her longevity, resilience, and lifelong dedication to cricket and sport in the country.
With this induction, she now stands alongside Australian greats such as Sir Donald Bradman, Keith Miller, Richie Benaud, Dennis Lillee, and Shane Warne, figures whose contributions have become part of the nation’s sporting folklore. She received the honour in the same ceremony as basketball legend Andrew Gaze.
The ‘Legend’ category of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame has existed since 1993, and to date, just 53 sporting figures have been honoured with this rare distinction.
Clark’s association with the Hall dates back to 2011, when she was first inducted, a year that also saw her recognised by the ICC Hall of Fame.
Fellow Legend and Sport Australia Hall of Fame chair John Bertrand expressed, “The Sport Australia Hall of Fame is proud to elevate Belinda Clark and Andrew Gaze to the prestigious status of Legends of their nation.” “Both icons of their respective sports, Belinda and Andrew have long inspired through excellence, leadership, and grace.
“Joining the esteemed ranks of the 51 Legends before them, their elevation to Legend status is not merely an honour – it is a recognition of legacies that have shaped the soul of Australian sport and continue to ignite the dreams of generations to come.”
Clark’s influence on cricket, both as a player and an administrator, is matched by very few.
Clark, a right-handed batter hailing from Newcastle, had a natural gift for piling on runs. At the young age of 23, she was entrusted with the captaincy of the Australian women’s team, a role she held for over a decade. Her leadership brought unparalleled success, highlighted by two World Cup victories, before she stepped away from the game in 2005.
With 4,844 runs in 118 ODIs at an average of nearly 48, Clark sits atop Australia’s all-time women’s ODI run charts. Her red-ball record was equally formidable, scoring 919 runs in 15 Tests at 45.95, the second-best in national history. In 1997, Clark rewrote history by becoming the first player ever to register a double century in ODIs, smashing 229 from 155 balls against Denmark. The record-making feat helped earn her the honour of being named Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
While serving as CEO of Women’s Cricket Australia, Clark played a pivotal role in the historic merger with the Australian Cricket Board, bringing both men’s and women’s cricket under one administration. After hanging up her boots, she spent more than 15 years with Cricket Australia, concentrating on grassroots initiatives and national team structures, before departing in 2020.
“It’s an unbelievable honour to be elevated to Legend status in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,” Clark said in a statement. “I am experiencing a combination of surprise, gratitude and pride. I played a team sport, and the reality is none of us achieve anything without the support and commitment of the whole team. I hope my teammates along with the coaches, support staff and administration feel like they are a part of this recognition. Professionally, I am proud of where the sport is going. It is setting the pace in the ambition to be equitable and whilst there is still a way to go, I am bullish about the future.”
“Belinda is one of the greats of Australian cricket and we are delighted her vast contribution to the game has been recognised with Legends status in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. As a brilliant batter, astute national captain and top-level administrator, Belinda is one of cricket’s outstanding leaders and a source of inspiration to all those fortunate to have played and worked with her.
“Belinda set the standard for our current generation of world-class women’s cricketers and continues to inspire many to play and love cricket while mentoring leaders in clubs and communities,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg added in his tribute.
Clark and Gaze will be honoured at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala Dinner, set to take place at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium on November 17. The evening will also see seven new inductees welcomed into the Hall of Fame, along with the announcement of this year’s winners of The Don and The Dawn Awards.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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