Photo Credit: Cricket Australia
The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee, together with Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) has announced Marg Jennings and Ian Redpath as inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Jennings and Redpath become the 60th and 61st inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, established in 1996.
Marg Jennings
Marg Jennings was an outstanding wicketkeeper-batter, who captained Australia in their first Women’s ODI World Cup victory in 1978.
She was also instrumental in advancing the careers of many Australian greats as a long-time member and chair of the Women’s National Selection Panel.
Jennings played eight Tests, scoring 341 runs at 28.41 including one hundred and two fifties with a top score of 104 and 14 catches and 10 stumpings.
She played 12 ODIs, scoring 221 runs at 31.57 with one fifty and a top score of 57 with nine catches and a stumping.
Hailing from the Melbourne suburb of Essendon, Jennings made her debut for Victoria in 1970-71 and was soon selected for her Test debut against New Zealand in 1972.
She quickly established herself as a world class wicketkeeper, and in the two-Test series against the West Indies in Montego Bay in 1976, Jennings enacted six stumpings, a measure of her brilliant work with the gloves.
Jennings emerged as an outstanding opening batter and against England at Edgbaston in 1976 became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century.
Elevated to captain Australia for the lone Test against India in Perth in 1977, Jennings then led Australia to its first Women’s World Cup victory in India in 1978 scoring 57 in the decisive game.
As a member and chair of the Women’s National Selection panel over 19 years, Jennings is widely respected for her role in helping to identify many of the stars of Australian Women’s cricket.
Ian Redpath
Ian Redpath was a prolific and courageous batter for Victoria and Australia, admired by teammates and opposition bowlers alike for his technical expertise and stoicism at the crease.
Born and raised in Geelong, Redpath played 66 Tests and made 4,737 runs at 43.45 including eight hundreds and 31 fifties with a top score of 171. A fine slips fielder, he took 83 catches.
His first-class record reads 226 matches for 14,993 runs at 41.99 with 32 hundreds and 84 fifties.
Redpath made his debut for Victoria in 1962 and in just his tenth knock, scored what would be his highest first-class score of 261 against Queensland.
Selected to make his debut for Australia in the second Test of the 1963-64 series against South Africa at the MCG, Redpath shared an opening partnership of 219 with fellow Victorian Bill Lawry before being dismissed for 97.
Redpath had to wait until 1969 to score his maiden Test century, 132 against the West Indies at the SCG. But he became a mainstay at the top of the order and his lean physique and personal relatability became a trademark of the iconic Australian team of the 1970s.
Redpath was Australian vice-captain in the home series against England in 1974-75 and the West Indies in 1975-76 when he scored three centuries against the emerging West Indian pace attack.
After his retirement Redpath served as Victorian men’s coach and he remains active in the Geelong cricket community to this day.
Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman, said:
“On behalf of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, I would like to congratulate this year’s two inductees – Ian and Marg. Induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is an incredible and much-deserved achievement in recognition of their years of greatness and service to Australian cricket.
“Marg was a superb wicket-keeper and opening batter for Australia. As a captain of Australia – leading the team to World Cup Victory in 1978 – coach of the Victorian cricket team and national selector, Marg has inspired, encouraged and mentored a generation of cricketing talent in this country.
“Ian’s passion for cricket and the Australian cricket team was immeasurable throughout his 66 Test career. A courageous yet measured opening batter, Ian had such a great ability to show resolve in difficult innings to guide Australia through some of the toughest bowling attacks in world cricket. Following his playing career, Ian helped guide and shape the next generation of Victorian cricket talent – going on to coach the Victorian cricket team.”
Todd Greenberg, ACA CEO, said:
“It is a great honour to represent the ACA on the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Selection Panel and to recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to our game. Both Marg and Ian were an integral part of Australian teams in the 1970s, and both continued to selflessly serve the game they love, long after their playing career.
“Marg boasts an outstanding record as a batter and wicketkeeper in an Australian team whose influence extends through to today’s world-beating team. So many of those who have built upon the legacy of Australia’s first World Cup Winning team of 1978, were in fact identified by Marg in her role as a national selector.
“Ian was a much-admired member of the Australian teams of the ’70s, carving out a persona in a team that featured some of the biggest to ever play the game – Lillee, Marsh and the Chappells to name but a few. His humility belies a remarkable record against some of the most lethal pace attacks in cricket. Ian’s ongoing contribution, first for Victoria and then in his hometown of Geelong, reinforces his incredible service to the game.”
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia CEO, said:
“The induction of new members to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is always one of the highlights of the cricket year. Marg and Ian have made enormous contributions and I am delighted that they join other Australian greats in the Hall of Fame.
“Marg was an outstanding wicketkeeper, opening batter and captain in a very talented Australian team, and her work as a national selector identifying and nurturing so many future international players was instrumental to the development of the women’s game.
“Ian was a much-admired member of the Australian teams of the 1960s and 1970s and his tremendous skill and tenacity, often against fearsome pace attacks, make him a much deserving Hall of Fame member; so too his invaluable work with Victoria and in local cricket following his international retirement.”
About the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame was first proposed by the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1995.
With the support of Cricket Australia and Cricket Victoria, the Hall of Fame was officially opened by the then Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable John Howard MP in 1996.
The selection philosophy for the hall of fame focuses on the players’ status as sporting legends in addition to their outstanding statistical records.
The selection panel is made up of representatives from all areas of cricket. Chaired by the current MCC Cricket Chairman, three former players are joined by the respective CEOs of Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association, along with two representatives from the media.
All inductees must have been retired from international cricket for a minimum of five years to be eligible for selection.
An inaugural group of ten players were inducted in 1996, and a further 51 players have been welcomed since:
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Inducted 1996 – Fred Spofforth, John Blackham, Victor Trumper, Clarrie Grimmett, Bill Ponsford, Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O’Reilly, Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee
Inducted 2000 – Warwick Armstrong, Neil Harvey and Allan Border
Inducted 2001 – Bill Woodfull and Arthur Morris
Inducted 2002 – Stan McCabe and Greg Chappell
Inducted 2003 – Lindsay Hassett and Ian Chappell
Inducted 2004 – Hugh Trumble and Alan Davidson
Inducted 2005 – Clem Hill and Rod Marsh
Inducted 2006 – Monty Noble and Bob Simpson
Inducted 2007 – Charles Macartney and Richie Benaud
Inducted 2008 – George Giffen and Ian Healy
Inducted 2009 – Steve Waugh
Inducted 2010 – Bill Lawry and Graham McKenzie
Inducted 2011 – Mark Taylor and Doug Walters
Inducted 2012 – Shane Warne
Inducted 2013 – Charlie Turner and Glenn McGrath
Inducted 2014 – Mark Waugh and Belinda Clark
Inducted 2015 – Adam Gilchrist and Jack Ryder
Inducted 2016 – Jeff Thomson and Wally Grout
Inducted 2017 – David Boon, Matthew Hayden and Betty Wilson
Inducted 2018 – Norm O’Neill, Ricky Ponting and Karen Rolton
Inducted 2019 – Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Dean Jones and Billy Murdoch
Inducted 2020 – Sharon Tredrea and Craig McDermott
Inducted 2021 – Johnny Mullagh, Merv Hughes and Lisa Sthalekar
Inducted 2022 – Justin Langer and Raelee Thompson
Inducted 2023 – Marg Jennings and Ian Redpath
SELECTION PANEL
ACHOF chairman and current MCC committee member Peter King
Former Test captain Belinda Clark
Former Test captain Mark Taylor
Former Test batsman and former MCC President Paul Sheahan
Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley
Media representatives Ben Horne and Greg Baum
