Photo Credit: Cricket Australia
The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Committee, together with Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), Cricket Australia (CA) and the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA), has announced former Australian Vice-Captain Christina Matthews AM has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Matthews joins the recently inducted Michael Clarke AO to become the 65th member of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, established by the Melbourne Cricket Club in 1996.
One further former Australian player will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this season.
Christina Matthews AM
Matthews played a record 20 Tests and 47 One Day Internationals for Australia from 1984-95 including the victorious 1988 and also the 1993 ODI World Cups.
Originally from Victoria, Matthews kept wickets for her home state, the ACT and New South Wales throughout a distinguished domestic career.
After her international debut, Matthews would become a stalwart of the Australian team claiming a world Test record 58 dismissals and holding the vice-captaincy between 1991-94.
Subsequently, Matthews would have a profound impact on cricket – and particularly women’s cricket – in various senior roles across the game including coaching and development, events, commercial operations and communications.
Throughout this time, she was a member of the national selection panel (2007-2011), worked for Cricket NSW and in 2012 became Chief Executive Officer of WA Cricket.
During her time with WA Cricket, Matthews oversaw a period of remarkable success by Western Australian teams and pioneered many transformative initiatives to increase overall participation and also the inclusion of women and girls in cricket.
Matthews’ influence has spread well beyond the boundary as a member of numerous boards and organisations championing cricket and the role of women in sport. These have included the Women of Sport Advisory Committee, the Ministerial Advisory Council for Female in Sports Leadership and she was Chair of the Western Australia Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Champions of Change.
In December 2024, Matthews was elected as the President of The Australian Cricketers’ Association, making history as the first female President.
Matthews was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2024 for her “service to cricket as a player and administrator, and to women”. She is an Honorary Member of the Melbourne Cricket Club and a life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club.
Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman, said:
“It’s my pleasure, on behalf of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame committee, to announce our 65th inductee – Christina Matthews AM.
“It is without a doubt that we can describe Christina’s contribution to Australian cricket as impactful and vast.
“Stretching from an impressive playing career, Christina has continued to pave the way for women in the game through her extensive administration career.
“Christina is being inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame because of her playing career, where her natural leadership came to the forefront as Vice-Captain of our national team between 1991-94.
“A wicketkeeper and right-handed batter, Christina still holds the record as Australia’s most-capped female in Test cricket, having played in 20 Tests and 47 One-Day International matches spanning a national representative career from 1984 to1995.
“Renowned as a champion of women’s cricket and sport more broadly, it is fitting to make this announcement on another historic day when the MCG hosts the first Women’s Test Match at the venue in more than 75 years.
“Christina’s incredible contribution to improving participation and the standing of women’s cricket in the community is the reason why she is a deserved inductee into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.”
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia CEO said:
“I’m absolutely delighted Christina’s outstanding contribution to cricket over more than 50 years has been acknowledged with her induction into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
“Christina was an excellent Australian wicketkeeper and vice-captain and her records for most Test appearances for Australia as well as the most Test dismissals for any nation still stand today.
“After her playing days, Christina became an absolute powerhouse of Australian Cricket with her passion for our game inspiring many transformative changes – particularly for the inclusion of women and girls.
“In her role as WA Cricket CEO she oversaw a period of incredible success on and off the field, and she has in turn had a significant impact on Australian Cricket as a whole as a pioneer, leader and articulate voice for our game.
“Christina’s induction seems particularly fitting as we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the first Women’s Test match with the day/night Ashes Test at the MCG.”
Greg Dyer, Australian Cricketers’ Association Chair said:
“Between her incredible on-field career and an equally as impressive administrative career, Christina is a fantastic and well due addition to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Her love of the game and desire to grow the sport for all will have a lasting impact. Christina has consistently paved the way and broken many barriers as a role model and idol for women and girls, as one of the most respected voices in Australian cricket.
Her historic appointment as the first female President of the Australian Cricketers’ Association is just one of the many phenomenal achievements throughout her career, and we at the ACA are incredibly grateful to be continuing to reap the rewards of her impressive work.”
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 former Victorian cricketer and Melbourne Cricket Club representative Peter King, four Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inducted 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.
Inductees are celebrated through a display in the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG, managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, in the cricket gallery. The Museum is open to the public every day from 10am – 5pm, with varied access and opening times dependent on MCG event days.
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
Inducted 2024 – Michael Clarke and Christina Matthews. One further inductee to be named.
SELECTION PANEL as at December 2024
Chair, former Victorian player and Melbourne Cricket Club representative Peter King
Australian Cricketers’ Association CEO Todd Greenberg
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley
2002 ACHOF inductee Greg Chappell
2014 ACHOF inductee Belinda Clark
2021 ACHOF inductee Lisa Sthalekar
2011 ACHOF inductee Mark Taylor
Journalist Greg Baum
Journalist Ben Horne
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Name of Author: Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia (CA), formerly the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), is the governing body for cricket in Australia. Established in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket, CA manages all national teams, including Men’s, Women’s, and Youth sides, as well as other national teams. It oversees the organization of Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is, and coordinates home international fixtures.
