Australia national women's cricket team

The Australian women's cricket team played their first Test match in 1934/5, when they lost to England two-nil in a three-Test series. Since then they have improved and are generally considered the best women's cricket team in the world.Fact|date=June 2008 They have won more World Cups than any other side — winning in 1977/8, 1981/2, 1988/9, 1997/8 and 2004/5.

One of the most remarkable families in the early history of the team were the Shevill sisters. Fernie Blade (nee Shevill) played against England in the first Test at Brisbane in 1934-35, and her twin Irene Shevill appeared in the next two. Another sister, Essie Shevill, played in all three of those matches, and her twin Lily Shevill also played for New South Wales.

Tournament History

=World Cup=

*1973: Runners up
*1978: Winners
*1982: Winners
*1988: Winners
*1993: 3rd place
*1997: Winners
*2001: Runners up
*2005: Winners

Current team

As of April 4th 2008 [http://www.southernstars.org.au/profiles.htm] , the Australian national women's squad is:
*2. Alex Blackwell
*5. Leonie Coleman
*7. Renee Chappell
*8. Ellyse Perry
*10. Emma Sampson
*11. Delissa Kimmince
*12. Lisa Sthalekar
*13. Melissa Bulow
*14. Clea Smith
*15. Kris Britt
*16. Shelley Nitschke
*18. Sarah Andrews
*19. Jodie Purves
*20. Kate Blackwell
*21. Karen Rolton (c)
*23. Sarah Edwards
*24. Kirsten Pike
*88. Rene Farrell
*??. Lauren Ebsary
*??. Leah Poulton

Records

Test cricket

*Highest team total: 569/9 v England, 6 August 1998 at Woodbridge Road, Guildford, England
*Highest individual score: 209 not out, Karen Rolton v England, 6 July 2001 at Headingley, Leeds, England
*Best innings bowling: 7/7, Betty Wilson v England, 21 February 1958 at Junction Oval, Melbourne, Australia
*Best match bowling: 11/16, Betty Wilson v England, 21 February 1958 at Junction Oval, Melbourne, Australia

ODI cricket

*Highest team total: 412/3 v Denmark, 16 December 1997 at Mumbai, India
*Highest individual innings: 229 not out, Belinda Clark v Denmark, 16 December 1997 at Mumbai, India
*Best innings bowling: 7/24, Shelley Nitschke v England, 19 August 2005 at Kidderminster, England

ee also

* Australian women's cricket team in England in 2005
* Australian men's cricket team
* Women's National Cricket League

External links

* [http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3068629 Photographs from the English Women's Cricket Association tour of Australia, 1934-1935]
* [http://www.southernstars.org.au/wca.htm Women's Cricket in Australia] : news, history, leagues and competitions, results and statistics