One of the greatest women's cricketers of all time, Australia's Belinda Clark, has been honoured on day two of the Sydney Test with the unveiling of a statue of her at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Clark has latterly been one of Australia's leading cricket administrators after a brilliant career that saw her captain Australia's women's team for more than a decade and hold numerous records, including the most Test and ODI runs for an Australian woman, and the top international score for an Australian woman — 229 not out.
The Clark sculpture — a world-first for a female cricketer — which shows her playing an attacking shot on the leg side, was created by NSW artist, Cathy Weiszmann.
Former teammates, including Mel Jones and Julia Price, were in attendance for the unveiling, along with family and other friends.
"I'm excited to have the sculpture in place and for people to now look at it and perhaps wonder what that is, who that is and to be able to tell a bit of a story is really important," Clark said.
"The sculpture encapsulates being able to have a go – to be courageous, to take on those challenges and break convention.
"I want people to take away that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it and you have good people around you.
"I think I've been very fortunate to have had great support and have a bit of an imagination to take my game where I wanted to take it, and hopefully the sport is in a better place for it."
Clark joins Australian cricket figures Fred 'The Demon' Spofforth, Richie Benaud, Stan McCabe and Steve Waugh in having a statue in her honour at the SCG.
The statue is the latest in a series of honours afforded to Clark since the end of her career.
The Belinda Clark Award is given to Australia's outstanding women's international cricketer of the season.
Clark was the first woman inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, and the second woman inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
SCG chairman Tony Shepherd said the sculpture's placement at the main entry to the members' area at the ground was chosen on purpose to put her alongside two of the greatest captains in the men's game, Richie Benaud and Steve Waugh.
"We recognise Belinda for all she has achieved as a player, leader, mentor and administrator – as well as all that will be achieved by those she's brought to the sport," Mr Shepherd said.
"Belinda's legacy is only going to continue to grow along with that of women's cricket in Australia."
