Australian cricket legends Dean Jones and Cathryn Fitzpatrick have joined former Test captain Billy Murdoch as the latest inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame (ACHoF).
Jones - who is the Melbourne Cricket Club's most capped Test player and a triple premiership player - made his Test debut in 1984 as a 22-year-old and played 52 Tests, averaging 46.55 with 11 centuries across a 10-year international career.
He was arguably best remembered for revolutionising one-day international cricket with his dashing style, superb fitness and brilliant fielding. In 164 ODI’s, he smashed 6068 runs at 44.61 with seven centuries, and was a key member of the side which won the 1987 World Cup.
The highlight of Jones’ career came in the famous drawn Test against India in Madras in 1986, where he produced one of the most remarkable Test innings ever, battling severe dehydration and oppressive heat to amass a score of 210 runs.
"Dean Jones revolutionised one-day cricket in the 1980’s, not just through his aggressive and entertaining batting, but also with his athletic fielding. A game changer, he was renowned as one of the best runners between the wickets and being one of the best outfielders of his generation," ACHoF chairman Peter King said.
“He was the ranked the world’s No.1 batsman in one-day cricket four years in a row between 1989 and 1992. He was one of the key reasons that Australia claimed the World Cup in 1987 while his heroics with the bat to score a double century in oppressive conditions in the famous Tied Test between Australia and India at Mumbai in 1986 remains legendary in the history of Australian cricket.”
Fitzpatrick was in league of her own as the world’s premier female fast bowler for nearly two decades, striking fear into opposition batters around the world with sheer pace and fierce competitiveness.
An MCC Honorary Cricket member, the 2004 Australian Women’s Cricketer of the Year made her Test debut in 1991 and played 13 Tests, claiming 60 wickets at 19.11.
The two-time World Cup winner is currently the second most prolific wicket taker in women’s ODI history and is just one of three Australian female cricketers to claim 100 one-day international wickets.
"Cathryn Fitzpatrick was regarded by teammates and opponents as the world’s premier female fast bowler over her decorated career. Her dedication to the game ensured she regularly bowled at a sharp pace which batters around the world often struggled to handle. She was dangerous right to the end of her career, claiming a six-wicket haul - that included a hat-trick – in her second last match," King said
“Her team and individual accolades are richly deserved and she has successfully made the transition from player to coach where she has continued to enjoy success at both domestic and international level.”
Murdoch was one of the greatest wicketkeeper-bats of his time, with his excellent technique and gritty determination making him extremely difficult to dismiss.
He made his test debut in 1877 and played 19 Tests – 18 with Australia and one with England – averaging 26.16 with the bat.
Murdoch became Australia’s second Test captain, leading his country in 16 Tests between 1880 and 1890.
Jones, Fitzpatrick and Murdoch were officially inducted at the Australian Cricket Awards night at Crown in Melbourne on Monday.
The MCC would like to congratulate Dean and Cathryn and the Murdoch family on their induction.