Two of Australia’s greatest top-order batsmen, David Boon and Matthew Hayden, and brilliant women’s all-rounder Betty Wilson were inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in January.

ACHoF chairman and MCC cricket chairman, Peter King, announced the inductees in Sydney prior to the Allan Border Medal ceremony.

David Boon was a key figure in the rise of the Australia side under Allan Border that went from easy-beats to winners of the World Cup in 1987, and then became the best Test team in the world. He played a crucial role in putting Tasmanian cricket on the map.

After his retirement as a player David worked within Tasmanian cricket before taking up his current role as a highly respected ICC match referee.

“David was a reassuring presence either as opener or number three, with more than 13,000 international runs across more than a decade at the highest level,” said Mr King. “He epitomises the tough-as-teak Australian cricketer.”

Matthew Hayden stands fifth in the list of all-time Australia Test run-scorers and his tally of 30 Test hundreds is bettered by only two countrymen in history – Ricky Ponting (41) and Steve Waugh (32).

He is one of only 10 players in history to have held the record for the highest individual Test score, thanks to his 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003. On the 2001 tour to India he was head and shoulders above his teammates in mastering the conditions, amassing 541 runs in just three Tests.

“Matthew featured prominently in the Australia squads that went unbeaten to win successive World Cups in 2003 and 2007,” said Mr King. “His role as an intimidating opening batsman – in the Test and limited overs arena - and outstanding slip fielder mark him out as one of the greatest players this country has produced.”

In the 11 Tests she played, Betty Wilson – who passed away in 2010 – scored 862 runs at 57.40 and took 68 wickets at 11.80, including 90 and 10 wickets on debut against New Zealand on debut in 1948. In her second match, she weighed in with 111 – becoming the first Australian woman to score a Test hundred against England – and another nine wickets.

In Melbourne in 1958 against England she became the first cricketer, male or female, to score a hundred and take 10 wickets in a Test, and her haul in that match included the first hat-trick by a woman in that form of the game.

“Betty was a woman ahead of her time, thanks to her brilliant all-round skills as a batter and off-spinner,” said Mr King. “It was cricket’s misfortune that she only played 11 Tests - due in part to World War II, but also because her career spanned a period when far fewer women’s cricket matches were played than in the modern era.

“It is fantastic that Betty can take her rightful place in the pantheon of great cricketers produced by this country.”

The hall of fame was first proposed by the MCC in 1995 and officially opened in 1996. It is now located inside the National Sports Museum at the MCG. With the support of Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, 10 players were inducted at its official opening in 1996 and a further 36 have been welcomed since.