April 2002

Joan Wilkinson, who played thirteen Tests for England between 1949 and 1958, has died. Her funeral was held at Foulridge, Lancashire, on Tuesday April 23, the town where she passed away at home at the age of 83.

A right-handed batter and occasional spin bowler, Wilkinson was chosen for England's tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1948-49, where she played all Tests except the opening game of the Australian leg. She was in the team which hosted Australia in the 1951 season, and was England vice-captain when New Zealand toured in 1954.

The Irish national women's team makes its debut in men's club competition on Saturday April 27. The women will be playing nine matches in the Leinster Men's Intermediate A League - effectively a fifth-grade club competition - and will take on the Clontarf fourth XI at Castle Avenue, Dublin in the opening game.

Australian all-rounder Karen Rolton dominated the South Australian Women's Cricket Association A grade grand final on 23 and 24 March as Port Adelaide won its second consecutive title.

Rolton, arguably the world's best female cricketer at this time, smashed 201 not out as Port crushed the Northern Districts Jets by the margin of 254 runs in the two-day season finale at the Women's Memorial Playing Fields, St Marys.

New Zealand umpire Kathy Cross achieved a new milestone in the men's game during the Second Test between the New Zealand men and England at the Basin Reserve, Wellington in March. The 44 year-old from Hutt Valley was appointed as fourth umpire for the Test, the first time that a woman has been included among the umpiring team for a men's international cricket match.