NAME IN “ WISDEN’S.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20510, 11 January 1935, Page 13

NAME IN “ WISDEN’S.”

Only Woman Player Who Has Achieved It. MISS DEANE, OF SYDNEY. Living quietly at Abbotsford (Syd ney) with the Parramatta River flow ing past her front door, lives Mis. Rosalie Deane, the only woman in th world whose name has appeared in tha cricket holy of holies—Wisclen’a. Thi. was achieved after she had scored « century in each innings of a match k 1891. Miss Deane has forgotten muc! of her cricketing da vs, but with man) delightful touches of humour was nbl ta recall to an interviewer her short, but particularly brilliant career. More than 40 years have yassrl since this famous woman put her bat in th< corner, firmly determined that becaus*. a match between the woman cricketer and the men had been arranged it wai time for her to giv-j up cricket. Am she did So had no intention of figurin' in what she called a “farce.” Cricke wAs a serious business to her and eoulc not be trifled with, so she gave it uj rather than appear in a “stupid” match Miss Deane only played cricket foi three years. That was in the ga\ ’nineties which were not quite ga\ enough to tolerate women cricketers. “You had to love the game very dearly to stick to it,” she said, ’’because you were ostracised by society, and hands were lifted in horror when you walked on to the field showing an inch of stocking above the ankle. Nowaday! the more inches you show the mor* popular you are.” There were no grade competitions o very vital matches in the ’nineties, al the games being played for charity, and when Miss Deane saw an advertisement calling for girl players she thought elu would try her luck. That was in 1890. and as she had had a good grounding in a hard school she felt fairly confident. The “school” was her brothers, who from the time she was eight years o. age had made her field, and bowl a" them and take a few hard thumps when they wanted to practise their bowling. ' If she so much as whimpered when she was hit on the leg or body she wag packed off home until she became hardened. Gradually s.he grew to lov. cricket and eagerly awaited her first chance. “I felt like a little mouse when 1 walked on to the field,” she said, “and had the impression that everyone look ing at me was an enormous cat. It took me hours to get over that feeling but once the game was on it gradually left me, and all I thought of was the match on hand.” Then came February, 1891, and th? match in which she made history. It was held at the association ground, now the Sydney Cricket Ground, and among th© players, were the four Gregory sisters—Nellie, Alice, Louise and Gertrude. Miss Deane had the time of her life out when she rattled up 180 there was no one to urge her get the 200; the umpire eaid, “Miss Deane, I think th* crowd have seen enough of you to-day Don't you think you could get out.” That was encouragement for you. The Gregory girls had been* hurling the ball down at her. but had met with suph little success that although Mis? Deane felt like throwing her wicket away she suggested to the opposing cap tain that if a little girl named Miss Harper was put on something might happen. Miss Harper duly appeared a< the bowling crease—a straight under arm came through and Miss Deane’, wicket was skittied. She had made 195. In the second innings she knocked uj 104 not out. The two centuries in one match pu her in Wisden's