• Belinda Clark is the first female cricketer to have a statue
• A bronze statue of the former batter was unveiled at the SCG.
• Clark led Australia in 101 one-day internationals.

Belinda Clark became the first female cricketer to have a statue erected in her honour on Thursday, when a bronze statue of the former batter was unveiled at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Clark, who led Australia in 101 one-day internationals, called it quits in 2005 after winning two World Cups.

She became the third female sportswoman to have a statue and the 15th participant in the SCG sculpture project, joining Betty Cuthbert and Marlene Matthews, two champion sprinters whose likenesses are erected in front of Allianz Stadium.

The Sydney Cricket Ground is home to the world’s first sculpture of a female cricketer, with Belinda Clark immortalised in bronze at the venue’s entry.

📃 https://www.bolnews.com/sports/2023/01/belinda-clark-bronze-sculpture-unveiled-at-scg/amp/ pic.twitter.com/Z1ZBylnK9s

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— Sydney Cricket Ground (@scg) January 4, 2023

“I’m delighted to have the sculpture in situ and for people to now look at it and wonder what that is, who that is, and to be able to convey a little bit of a story,” Clark said.

“The sculpture represents the ability to try something new. To be brave, to face those obstacles and defy tradition.

“I want people to take away that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it and have good people around you, and I think I’ve been very fortunate to have had great support and a bit of an imagination to take my game where I wanted to take it, and hopefully the sport is a better place because of it.”

Against Denmark in 1997, she achieved the first double century in a one-day international in her 14-year career, batting 229 not out.

Clark represented Australia in 118 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 15 Tests, averaging over 45 in each. The former hitter is Australia’s highest ODI and Test run-scorer, with 4844 and 919 runs, respectively.

Clark has worked with Women’s Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricket Academy, and the International Cricket Council’s Women’s Committee since her retirement.

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