‘Cricket is a sport for all’

Two former Australian cricketers have been acknowledged for their services to the game on and off the field in the Australian Day honours.

Christina Matthews at the WACA to celebrate her Australia Day honours. Picture: Colin Murty

Two women who have helped shape Australian cricket have been honoured for their service to the sport.

One of cricket’s most successful administrators, Christina Matthews, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division for her significant service to cricket as a player and administrator, and to women.

Australian all-rounder turned leading cricket coach Zoe Goss was awarded the medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for her service to cricket.

Matthews, a former Australia vice-captain, will stand down as Western Australia Cricket’s chief executive in March after a “transformative” 12-year stint at the helm of the WACA.

She said she was thrilled with the acknowledgement and in her time at the top of state cricket, where she had been determined to make the game a “sport for all”.

“It’s always lovely to be recognised, particularly when they’re Australia-wide honours,” Matthews said. “It’s a thrill and a thrill for… my family and the people who’ve helped along the way.

“I’ve always seen cricket as it could be – a sport for all and a sport that embraces everybody, rather than just a single focused sport. And obviously that doesn’t make people happy in some instances, as we all know.

“But overall it’s a national sport … it’s the only truly national sport and it should be something everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, can be part of.

“And it’s our job to model it that way.”

Her friend Goss was also recognised for not only her impressive impact on the women’s game but for her role as a coach.

Goss stole the headlines in a 1994 exhibition match between the Bradman XI and the World XI at the SCG when she dismissed Brian Lara, the best batsman in the world.

Since then, she has gone to become a celebrated coach and the former Australian international now heads the WA Aboriginal Talent Academy program.

“During her time, she was the best all rounder in the world,” Matthews said. “She was obviously WA’s greatest all round female cricketer and she also created worldwide headlines when she got Brian Lara out; she changed the game in a way for so many people.

“Today, she does a lot of the coaching with Talent Academy and goes to the Indigenous Championships to help mentor athletes through.

“She has made a terrific contribution to the game and has rightly been honoured for it.”