Former England women’s captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint, passes away

Rachael Heyhoe Flint, England’s former women’s captain and a global pioneer of the game, has passed away, aged 77, on Wednesday (January 18).

In a total of 22 Tests and 23 ODIs in a career spanning 19 years starting from 1960, Heyhoe Flint averaged 45.54 and 58.45 with the bat respectively. Having taken over captaincy in 1966, she took England to the inaugural women’s World Cup trophy in 1973. For her many accomplishments, Heyhoe Flint was bestowed with an ICC Hall of Fame Induction in 2010.

Heyhoe Flint is known to be instrumental in the MCC vote in 1999 which paved the way for women getting membership into the club. She went on to become the first woman to be elected on the MCC Committee in 2004 and even served a second term.

Heyhoe-Flint was also a Trustee of the Club between 2011 and 2013.

“This is a terribly sad day for everyone involved in cricket and all of us at MCC. Rachael Heyhoe-Flint was a pioneer of women’s cricket,” grieved MCC President Matthew Fleming. “She was the first global superstar in the women’s game and her overall contribution to MCC, cricket and sport in general was immense.”

“In 1999, Rachael was elected as one of the first ten female Members of MCC, and she became a central figure in the Club,” Fleming added. “Her impact on MCC, be it through events on the field or in the Committee Room, was immeasurable and her enthusiasm, wisdom and gentleness of character will be missed by everyone with whom she came into contact. We all loved her.”