Personal info
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Public Figures

Gender

Female

Birthday

23 March

Location

Victoria, Australia

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Elaine Bray

Biography

Elaine Joy Bray, born on March 22, 1940, in Kew, Melbourne, Victoria, was a prominent figure in Australian women's cricket during a pivotal era. A right-handed top-order batter and a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Bray was known for her consistent performances and her participation in the early groundbreaking international tournaments. She tragically passed away at the age of 57 on January 10, 1998.

 

 

Early Career and Multi-Sport Talent: Elaine Bray's cricketing journey began with Victoria in the Second XI in 1960. Her talent wasn't confined to the cricket pitch; she also excelled in hockey, even representing Australia in the sport on a tour of Malaysia in 1962. This dual-sport involvement ran for a significant part of her career, showcasing her exceptional athletic abilities. By 1965/66, she was a regular in the senior Victorian state team, and her strong domestic form soon earned her a call-up to the national side.

 

 

International Career and World Cup Participation: Bray made her Test debut for Australia in December 1968 against England in the Ashes series. While her bowling was limited in international cricket, it was her batting that truly shone. She consistently featured in the top order, providing stability and scoring crucial runs.

 

 

A significant part of her career involved the early Women's Cricket World Cups. She played in the inaugural World Cup in 1973 in England and also featured in the 1977/78 tournament. Her ODI debut, along with several other Australian players, came in the very first official Women's One Day International match in June 1973 against Young England.

 

 

 

Key Career Highlights:

  • Test Batting Prowess: In 5 Test matches, Elaine Bray scored 261 runs at an impressive average of 37.28, including two half-centuries. Her highest Test score of 86 came against India in December 1977, where she top-scored for Australia in the first innings.
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  • World Cup Participant: Her involvement in the 1973 and 1977/78 World Cups places her among the pioneers of women's international limited-overs cricket.
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  • Vice-Captaincy: In 1971, she was elevated to the role of vice-captain of the Australian Test team, serving under Miriam Knee. She retained this position on tours to Jamaica and for the inaugural World Cup.
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  • Highest ODI Score: Her top score in ODIs was 40, achieved against England in Birmingham during the 1973 World Cup.

 

Elaine Bray's contributions to Australian women's cricket, particularly during its foundational years, were invaluable. Her consistent batting and leadership roles helped shape the team's early international identity. She remains a respected figure in the history of the sport.