England women’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Sarah Taylor, has won her 100th One-Day International (ODI) playing cap, in England’s second ODI against South Africa Women at SuperSportPark, Centurion today.
Ten years and 99 matches after making her ODI debut against India at Lord’s in 2006, the 26-year-old Sussex captain has amassed 3,259 ODI runs, and taken 40 stumpings alongside 74 catches. She becomes the seventh England women’s cricketer to reach the milestone, following current England team-mates, Charlotte Edwards (190*), Jenny Gunn (128*) and Lydia Greenway (126*).
The Sussex captain made history this winter by becoming the first woman to play Australian first grade cricket, representing Northern Districts Cricket Club (“The Jets”) in the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) Premier Cricket Competition. Taylor has also been honoured on three consecutive occasions by the ICC in their annual awards, after being named as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year for 2014, and previously securing the ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year accolade in 2012 and 2013.
Speaking ahead of the match today, Sarah Taylor said: “I’m sure I will be quite nervous on the morning of the match, but at the moment I’m just really excited. To play 100 games for your country is something that every sportsman and sportswoman dreams of and it is something that I am incredibly proud to have achieved. I love playing cricket for England, and body permitting, would love to do it another 100 times.
“In 100 matches there are of course a few highlights. The hundred I scored against the West Indies in Trinidad in 2013 – to win the match and the series – was a really gritty one, on a difficult wicket, and not how I would usually play, so that certainly stands out. Keeping-wise, I guess the reverse paddle catch to dismiss Jodie Fields in the 2013 Women’s Ashes was pretty good. I don’t think I realise how far I’d moved until I was shown a picture of it – definitely one of those great moments that I will remember forever.”
To watch the full interview with Taylor, please click here.
ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket, and former Sussex and England team-mate, Clare Connor, has sent her congratulations: “When I first watched Sarah play at the age of 13, I was left in no doubt that she would play at the highest level. She was a prolific talent and just a few years later she was batting for Brighton College 1st XI against a rapid Chris Jordan, who was playing for Dulwich College at the time. Tough experiences such as these have taught her well and it was no surprise to learn that she was going to make history in the men’s game in Australia this winter. I congratulate her for all that she has achieved on this momentous day – it has been a pleasure to watch her develop and I believe that there are even more special times ahead for her.”
Led by England women’s captain, Charlotte Edwards, who is the most capped ODI cricketer in the history of the women’s game with 190 ODI appearances, Taylor’s England team-mates have recorded a short video message to offer their congratulations, which is available to view here.
England women are currently playing a three match ODI series, which will be followed by a three match T20I series against South Africa women. After today’s second ODI in Centurion, they will next be in action on 14th February in the third and final ODI at Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.
England women’s One-Day International “100 club”:
|
Player No. |
Name |
ODI Debut |
Caps |
|
53 |
Clare Taylor |
05.12.1988 |
105 |
|
63 |
Jane Smit |
20.07.1993 |
109 |
|
73 |
Charlotte Edwards |
15.08.1997 |
190* |
|
78 |
S.Claire Taylor |
19.07.1998 |
126 |
|
97 |
Lydia Greenway |
13.08.2003 |
126* |
|
98 |
Jennifer Gunn |
15.02.2004 |
128* |
|
102 |
Sarah Taylor |
14.08.2006 |
100* |
Sarah Taylor profile:
- Name: Sarah Jane Taylor
- Born: May 20 1989, London
- County:Sussex
- Test Caps: 8
- ODI Caps: 100
- T20I Caps: 73
- Role: Right-hand bat / wicketkeeper
England women’s tour to South Africa 2016 schedule in full:
|
Date |
Format |
Venue |
|
7.2.16 |
1st ODI * |
SaharaWillowmoorePark, Benoni |
|
12.2.16 |
2nd ODI * |
SuperSportPark, Centurion |
|
14.2.16 |
3rd ODI * |
Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
|
18.2.16 |
1st T20I |
BolandPark, Paarl |
|
19.2.16 |
2nd T20I + |
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town |
|
21.2.16 |
3rd T20I + |
Bidvest Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
* ICC Women’s Championship fixture
+ Double-header with men’s T20I (South Africa v England)
Source: ECB