Joan Hatcher played four Test matches for New Zealand, from 1947/8 against Australia, to 1954 and a tour of England.
Joan began her career playing for Wellington from 1943/4 to 1958/9, primarily as an opener who bowled occasional medium pace. During this time, in the off season, she also represented Wellington in hockey.
Her debut Test match at the Basin Reserve in Wellington against Mollie Dive’s touring Australian team in March 1948. Because it was the first Test played after the war, almost every single player was making their debut. Opening the batting with Billie Fulford, Joan made 21 in the first innings and top scored in the second with 23.
In her second Test match, against England in Auckland in March 1949, she opened the batting with her sister Doris (Dot Bailey), in what was Dot’s only Test.
Joan Hatcher played four Test matches in all in an era where New Zealand were up against the powerful sides of Australia and England, and her 23 in the second innings at Wellington remained as her top score.