Norma Whiteman, oldest Test cricketer in Australia, passes away

Canberra: Iconic Australian cricketer Norma Whiteman passed away at the age of 95. She is Australia's oldest Test cricketer and a legend in the women's game.

The fast-bowling allrounder represented the country in seven Tests between 1948 and 1951. Norma debuted in 1948 on a tour of New Zealand and finished her career after the 1951 tour of England. The middle-order batter and medium-pace bowler scored 151 Test runs at 25.16 and scalped 22 wickets at 20.54.

Australia Cricket wrote on Twitter: "Australian Cricket is mourning the loss of Norma Johnston (nee Whiteman), who has passed away aged 95. Norma played seven Tests from 1948-51 and until her passing, was Australia's oldest living Test cricketer. Our thoughts are with her family and friends."

Australian men's cricket team captain Pat Cummins took to Twitter to mourn Whiteman and wrote: "This morning I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Norma Johnston. She was passionate about cricket, about her hometown of Bathurst, and the many women who would follow in her footsteps representing their state and country. Her contribution to Australian cricket and the friendships she made with so many within the game will live on forever."

Cricket commentator and former cricketer Mel Jones also tweeted: "Always indebted to those before us for the foundations and showing us the joy in the game. A mountain of thanks to Norma."

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley told ESPN that everyone in Australian Cricket will be saddened to hear of Norma's passing. "As a pioneer, Norma not only made a wonderful contribution as a player but helped set the platform for the many thousands of women and girls now playing the game."

In a statement issued by the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA), cricket commentator and former cricketer and captain of the Australia women's national cricket team Lisa Sthalekar said that she loved listening to Normal recall touring with the pioneers of the women's game. "It was an interest she carried all the way through to her love of the WBBL and the thrill she got from just how far the game had progressed. Being a girl from Bathurst in country New South Wales, she always kept an eye on, and had a place close to her heart for all the country girls who would come through and play for their state and Australia," she added.