Former Australia cricketer Lorna Beal passes away

Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket Victoria paid tribute to former Australia cricketer Lorna Beal (née Larter), who passed away on Sunday (August 9) at the age of 96.

Beal, a right-hand batter and a wicket-keeper, played seven test matches for Australia between 1948 and 1951. She scored 72 runs and accounted for 16 dismissals behind the wicket.

Beal, born in Hawthorn, Melbourne in 1923 as Lorna Larter, started playing cricket at the age of 12. She joined South Hawthorn Ladies Cricket Club and represented Hawthorn Ladies Cricket Club later. She then went on to open the batting for Victoria in domestic cricket before making her Australia debut in 1948 against New Zealand in Wellington.

One of the true pioneers of @cricketvictoria & @AusWomenCricket Lorna Beal (née Larter - keeping) has passed aged 96. 7 tests, 6 weeks on the boat to England for an Ashes, oh the stories she had. Thanks for helping creating the pathway Lorna. pic.twitter.com/ueCYnB6NUI

— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) August 10, 2020

“Our thoughts are with Lorna’s family, as well as all the friends she made throughout her career,” Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, said in a statement. “There is no doubt Lorna faced challenges that today’s players could never dream of, including spending six weeks at sea to get to England to play the game she loved.”

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Beal played her last match for Australia during the 1951 tour to England. She met her future husband Roy while travelling by ship to England with her teammates. She retired from cricket at the end of the tour and took up golf after her marriage to Roy.

Beal was a member of the National Ladies’ Golf Union Council for seven and years and Club Captain of the Box Hill Golf Club. She was also a member and supporter of the social group Pioneer Victorian Ladies Cricket Association formed in 1930.

“It’s pioneers like Lorna who paved the way for future generations and have made the game what it is today. One of the best in the business behind the stumps, we pay our respects to Lorna and acknowledge the legacy she has left on the game of cricket,” Hockley added.