Karen Price, a right arm medium-fast bowler who played Test and ODI cricket for Australia between 1974 to 1986, also has a Test century to her name.
Born on this day, 7th May 1955 in Sydney NSW, Karen Price (now Hill) made her debut for New South Wales in limited overs cricket in 1972/73 and in First Class cricket in 1973/74. The following season she was selected to play for Australia in a one-off Test against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington under the captaincy of Wendy Blunsden. Despite not bowling in either innings and making just 2 runs batting at number six, it was the beginning of a decade long career for the allrounder.
Australia toured England in 1976 for three Test matches and three ODIs under the leadership of new captain, Anne Gordon. Karen did not feature until the third Test where she dismissed Lynne Thomas, Megan Lear and Julia Greenwood to collect 3-31 from 21 overs. In the second innings she removed Rachael Heyhoe Flint putting an end to Rachael’s epic innings of 179.
It was on the 1976 tour that Karen made her ODI debut at Canterbury and took 3-12 from eight overs, including Heyhoe Flint, Thomas and Enid Bakewell. Handy scalps to collect on a debut! In total Karen played sixteen ODIs taking 21 wickets at 18.90 runs per wicket.
A break in international cricket for several years before Karen is selected to tour India in Jill Kennare’s team in 1983/84 as part of the first Australia team to embark on a Test tour to the region. Karen played all four Tests and at Delhi took 4-52 in the first innings. At Lucknow she took 6-72 and 4-35 giving her a rare ten wicket haul in Test cricket. Her 10-107 puts her eighth on the all-time list of best bowling in women’s Tests and third best for an Australian after Betty Wilson (11-16 and 10-65).
Up until this point Karen had not performed well with the bat at this level, noting that opportunities were not always forthcoming. In the third Test at Ahmedabad Karen went in to bat at number eight and finished with 104 not out which included twelve boundaries.
In the second Test against England in 1984/85 in a match that saw Australia lose by 5 runs chasing 125 to win, it was Karen’s lone hand of 51 that showed any real resistance. She played one final Test match in the series, the third Test at Brisbane.