The inaugural women's Test Match
History Makers—Part XXI
What follows is the latest installment in our series on the inaugural women’s Ashes tour of 1934/35. The previous installment is here.
Exhibition Ground Brisbane. Australia v England (First Test Match)
Day One: 28th December 1934
7 wickets and 72 runs for Maclagan
Close of play: Australia 47 (K Smith 25, L Kettles 9, M Maclagan 7-10) England 116-5 (Maclagan 72, Archdale 12*, A Palmer 4-15 )
Australia won the toss on the first day of international women’s cricket and elected to bat. Hazel Pritchard took guard to face the first ball bowled by Myrtle Maclagan. She will forever be the first batter dismissed when she was out to hit a wicket to Maclagan. Maclagan destroyed the top-order, taking the first four wickets to leave Australia 4-10. Matters got worse when wicketkeeper Hilda Hills attempted a pull shot from Maclagan, which resulted in a broken nose. When Mary Taylor, who had opened the bowling, bowled Pedan for one, Australia was 5-13—effectively 6-13, as it became clear Hills would not return.
Local star Kath Smith, who had batted defensively, scoring a single in 41 minutes, took the attack to England. She added 33 with Lorna Kettles before Kettles became the first of Partidge’s three catches. Smith tried one shot too many when she offered Spear a simple catch. Australia were all out for 47 in less than two hours, with Maclagan taking 7-10.
When Australia took the field, Pritchard keeping the wicket in place of the injured Hills, they needed early wickets to stay in the game. However, Maclagan and Snowball batted comfortably, surpassing Australia’s score in 37 minutes. Peggy Antonio, who had taken ten wickets in the Victoria game, took time to settle into her rhythm but sent back Snowball for 15. England were 1-48. Hide, Child, and Partridge fell cheaply to Anne Palmer’s off-spin, but Maclagan continued to score freely. She was eventually out, bowled by Palmer to the last ball of the day for 72. Maclagan had been on the field from start to finish, bowling the first ball and departing from the final ball. At 5-116, England had a lead of 69 and were firmly in the driver’s seat. Australia needs early wickets on day two.
Ric Finlay serves on the ACS general committee, and as cricket statistician and scorer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.