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 inducted in Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
Matthews played a record 20 Tests and 47 One Day Internationals from 1984-95 including the victorious 1988 and the 1993 ODI World Cups.
Originally from Victoria, Matthews kept wickets for her home state ACT and New South Wales throughout a distinguished domestic career.
She made her international debut against India in Faridibad in January 1984 and became 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.
While at WA Cricket, Matthews pioneered many transformative initiatives that encouraged all Western Australians to take up the summer sport.
She established the WA Cricket Foundation, providing opportunities for thousands of people to realise the physical and social benefits of cricket. The Foundation’s diversity programs also led to a drastic increase in participation among Aboriginal communities, women and girls, and people with a disability.
Ms Matthews’ legacy is further enhanced by the commencement of the $168.9 million WACA Ground Improvement Project, which will revitalise the venue into a sporting and community hub with cricket at its heart.
The Project has been made possible by the successful transition of men’s international and Big Bash League cricket to Optus Stadium in 2018 and is scheduled to be completed for the 2025-26 summer.
On-field, WA teams won an unparalleled 15 elite-level titles across all five of Australia’s women’s and men’s domestic competitions during Ms Matthews’ tenure. Additionally, 31 Western Australian players were called up for national honours during this period.
Ms Matthews’ influence 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 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.
Ms 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.