Australian cricket legends Marg Jennings and Ian Redpath have been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame. The announcement was made by the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee in conjunction with Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.
Jennings and Redpath become the 60th and 61st inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, which was established in 1996.
Jennings, an outstanding wicketkeeper-batter, captained Australia in their first Women’s ODI World Cup victory in 1978. She also played a vital role in advancing the careers of many Australian greats as a long-time member and chair of the Women’s National Selection Panel. In her 8 Test matches, Jennings scored 341 runs at an average of 28.41, including one century and two fifties, with a top score of 104. She also took 14 catches and made 10 stumpings. In 12 ODIs, she scored 221 runs at an average of 31.57, with one fifty and a top score of 57, and took 9 catches and made one stumping.
Hailing from the Melbourne suburb of Essendon, Jennings made her debut for Victoria in 1970-71 and was soon selected for her Test debut against New Zealand in 1972. She quickly established herself as a world-class wicketkeeper and in the two-Test series against the West Indies in Montego Bay in 1976, Jennings made six stumpings, a measure of her brilliant work with the gloves. Jennings also emerged as an outstanding opening batter, and against England at Edgbaston in 1976, she became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century. Elevated to captain Australia for the lone Test against India in Perth in 1977, Jennings then led Australia to its first Women’s World Cup victory in India in 1978, scoring 57 in the decisive game.
Redpath, on the other hand, was a prolific and courageous batter for Victoria and Australia. He was admired by teammates and opposition bowlers alike for his technical expertise and stoicism at the crease. Born and raised in Geelong, Redpath played 66 Tests and made 4,737 runs at an average of 43.45, including eight centuries and 31 fifties, with a top score of 171. A fine slips fielder, he took 83 catches. His first-class record reads 226 matches for 14,993 runs at an average of 41.99, with 32 centuries and 84 fifties.
Redpath made his debut for Victoria in 1962 and in just his tenth knock, scored what would be his highest first-class score of 261 against Queensland. Selected to make his debut for Australia in the second Test of the 1963-64 series against South Africa at the MCG, Redpath shared an opening partnership of 219 with fellow Victorian Bill Lawry before being dismissed for 97. He had to wait until 1969 to score his maiden Test century, 132 against the West Indies at the SCG. But he became a mainstay at the top of the order and his lean physique and personal relatability became a trademark of the iconic Australian team of the 1970s.
Redpath was Australian vice-captain in the home series against England in 1974-75 and the West Indies in 1975-76 when he scored three centuries against the emerging West Indian pace attack. After his retirement, Redpath served as Victorian men’s coach and he remains active in the Geelong cricket community to this day.
The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman, Peter King, said: “On behalf of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, I would like to congratulate this year’s two inductees—Ian and Marg. Induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is an incredible and much-deserved achievement in recognition of their years of greatness and service to Australian cricket.”
ACA CEO, Todd Greenberg, added: “It is a great honour to represent the ACA on the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Selection Panel and to recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to our game. Both Marg and Ian were an integral part of Australian teams in the 1970s, and both continued to selflessly serve the game they love, long after their playing career.”
Jennings and Redpath will be officially inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame during a ceremony later this year. Their induction marks a significant moment in Australian cricket history, as they take their rightful place alongside other greats of the game in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the sport.
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Australian cricket legends Marg Jennings & Ian Redpath have been inducted into the Australian #Cricket #HallofFame. Jennings & Redpath become the 60th & 61st inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, which was established in 1996. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/8VU3w9Kk4x
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