Joy Lamason played four Test matches for New Zealand, from 1947/8 against Australia, to 1954 and a tour of England. She is the sister-in-law of former New Zealand captain, Ina Lamason.
Born Joy Stenberg on 15th December 1915 in Auckland, the first recorded match is in February 1935. She is playing for Wellington against Betty Archdale’s all conquering England team. Joy batted at number ten and didn’t get a bowl.
A year later Joy has married Bob Lamason, a promising cricketer who died in the Second World War at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.The war halted Joy’s career but she finally made her Test debut in 1947/8 at Wellington against Australia. Captain for New Zealand is Joy’s sister-in-law, Ina Lamason.
oy opened the bowling and sent down 31 overs against the rampant Mollie Dive, Una Paisley and Betty Wilson. Joy’s 24 runs in the first innings and 19 in the second were among New Zealand’s best scores.
In 1948/9 Joy is selected in the team for a one-off Test against Molly Hide’s England team and while New Zealand is beaten by 185 runs, Joy had good success with the ball, collecting the prize wickets of Hide, Cecilia Robinson and Mary Duggan.
The tour to England in 1954 was Joy’s final time playing Test cricket and only played two of the three Tests. Like many visitors to England Joy struggled with the bat, but did manage to take a career best of 4-51 at Headingley.
Jack passed away at only 55 years of age in 1961. Joy was with us until only recently, passing away at age 96 in Porirua, Wellington in 2012.