Trailblazing former captain Belinda Clark immortalised at the SCG
A brand new bronze statue has been unveiled in the grounds of the SCG.
Former Australian captain Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer to be immortalised in a statue anywhere in the world.
The statue was unveiled on Thursday morning by Clark, former Governor-General Quentin Bryce, and NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet.
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"I'm excited to have the sculpture in place and for people to now look at it and perhaps wonder what that is, who that is and to be able to tell a bit of a story is really important," Clark said.
Belinda Clark poses with her newly revealed statue ahead of day two of the third Test between Australia and South Africa. Cricket Australia via Getty Images
"The sculpture encapsulates being able to have a go – to be courageous, to take on those challenges and break convention."
Clark was the first cricketer - male or female - to make a double century in a one-day match when she blasted 229 not out off just 155 balls against Denmark in the 1997 Women's World Cup in India.
It took until 2010 - another 13 years - before Sachin Tendulkar became the first male to do it.
In an era where the women's game was dominated by limited overs matches, Clark scored 919 runs in Tests at 45.95, and 4844 at 47.49 in 118 one-dayers.
Belinda Clark during the 2005 Women's World Cup against Sri Lanka. Getty
Since her retirement, she has carved out a successful career as an administrator, working for Cricket Australia, Cricket NSW and the ICC.
"I want people to take away that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it and you have good people around you, and I think I've been very fortunate to have had great support and have a bit of an imagination to take my game where I wanted to take it, and hopefully the sport is in a better place for it," she said.
Clark's is the 15th statue at the SCG, and the third woman, joining sprinters Betty Cuthbert and Marlene Matthews who are at the front of Allianz Stadium next door.
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