Vale Lindsay Reeler (1961-2024)

_{(Pic Supplied: Bradman Museum)}

Born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) before moving to Australia as a 10-year-old, before taking up cricket five years later while attending Ravenswood School for Girls in Gordon on Sydney’s upper north shore.

Such was Reeler’s talent she made her NSW Women’s Team debut (cap #154) just four years later, in 1981, at just 19-years-of-age. In that drawn match against South Australia Reeler took a wicket and scored five runs.

That was the beginning of an eight-season Breakers career for the top order batter and medium pacer who would make both her One Day International (cap #38) and Test (cap #95) debuts within a three-day period in January 1984.

Over the next five years Reeler went on to play ten Tests and 23 ODIs for Australia before a knee injury forced her to retire from the game at just 27, a little over a decade after she had taken up cricket.

In her ten Tests, Reeler scored 510 runs at an average of 39.23, with one century – 110 not out against England in 1987 – a further three half centuries, 12 catches and two wickets.

However, it was in one day cricket where Reeler’s star shone brightest. She was the first woman to score 1,000 runs in ODIs for Australia, and her last ODI appearance was in the final of the 1988 Women’s Cricket World Cup at the MCG, won by the host nation with Reeler scoring an unbeaten 59.

During that world cup, Reeler amassed 448 runs at an average of 149, including two tons and a pair of half-centuries. Her unbeaten 143 in Australia's first match, against the, was, at the time, the highest ever score in women's ODIs.

At the conclusion of her ODI career, Reeler had scored 1,034 runs at 57.44 with two centuries and eight 50’s.

Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon said Reeler’s passing had left the NSW cricket community saddened.

“Lindsay had a burgeoning career at the top level of the game before it was cut short by injury,” Germon said.

“She was a prolific run scorer, particularly in the one-day game and was a major part of Australia winning the world cup in 1988.

“Lindsay was a role model for female cricketers during and after that period and she will be dearly missed in our community.”

_{(Pic Supplied: Bradman Museum)}