The first “superstar” wicket keeper, Betty Snowball played in the very first women’s Test. She also took the first catch by a keeper, the first stumping and let through the first bye. She also scored the first century for a keeper, a whopping 189, a record that stood for over 50 years.
Elizabeth “Betty” Snowball was born in Lancashire in July 1908. Her father was a Scot who encouraged his daughter to play sports. That connection allowed Betty to international squash and lacrosse for Scotland. However, it was cricket where Betty left her greatest mark on the sporting arena.
Betty’s precocious talent with the bat saw her at the top of the order for England for the first four Test matches. As her career progressed, she moved down the order, but no less formidable.
It is her wicket keeping where she truly shone, her quick reflexes and small frame allowing her to work her magic behind the stumps. Not only did she get the first stumping, she got the first four, all in one innings, in the second Test against Australia at the SCG in 1934/35. Her efficient manner had her compared favourably to Australia’s Bert Oldfield.
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