I pay tribute to Denise Annetts, one of the greatest female cricketers Australia has ever produced. Denise smashed many records during her cricketing career, some of which she still holds today. She represented Australia playing against some of the toughest competitors and on the best pitches in the world. She is one amazing lady who continues to give back to the Hornsby community by coaching and mentoring young cricketing stars. It was recently made official that Denise has been given a Marylebone Cricket Club [MCC] life membership. The MCC is the world's home of cricket and has given out 320 life memberships and only 19 to female players. This award recognises Denise as one of Australia's true cricketing greats. She has the highest batting average of any living cricketer, male or female, and she is second only to the great Sir Donald Bradman. Her accomplishments have stood the test of time and still remain as benchmarks for the national woman's cricket side.
Denise attended Abbotsleigh at Wahroonga where she was heavily involved in sport. Captaining both the firsts for cricket and hockey, her sporting talent shined bright from a young age. She finished her schooling in the leadership position of school vice-captain. She began playing for the Mirrabooka Cricket Club before it merged with the Gordon District Cricket Club. They could see they had a star on their hands when at just 14 years of age Denise was picked to play first grade. By 18 she was playing for the New South Wales team and also served as captain. But one sport was just not enough for this phenomenal woman. At the same time Denise was also representing our State in the New South Wales hockey team and our country in the under 21 Australian team. She eventually had to give up hockey to focus on cricket, her one true passion. In January 1985 she was selected for the Women's Cricket Association of Australia President's XI to play in England.
Following her good form she was selected to go on to play in the Australian team to face New Zealand. She scored 26 runs in her first innings and Australia won that match comfortably—by nine wickets.
It was her pairing with Belinda Haggett the following season that saw her score a maiden half-century in a One Day International. She opened the batting with 57 against New Zealand in Wellington. She scored her second half-century in the 1987 One Day International, when the Australian women's team toured the British Isles. She went on to make a 183 second-wicket partnership with Lindsay Reeler against England in Collingham. During her second test appearance she was partnered again with Lindsay Reeler, after Denise Emerson and Belinda Haggett had fallen early. The partnership saw Lindsay Reeler score 110 and Denise score 193—a combined record in women's test cricket of 309 runs.
In the eight years she played for Australia between 1985 and 1993 she achieved some statistics that are more than just impressive; they are statistics that will blow interested people away. She holds the world record partnership with Lindsay Reeler of 309. She also holds the record for the fastest century in women's cricket. This was awarded to her when matches were played on full-size test grounds. She has held a one-time world record individual score of 193. She finished her impressive test career with 819 runs in 13 innings, which is an average of 81.9. This record is only surpassed by the great Sir Donald Bradman, and she holds the highest batting average of any living cricketer. She is also ranked by the Guinness Book of Records as one of the top 1,000 athletes globally. She has played cricket at some of the best pitches in Australia and all over the world, including the hallowed turf of cricket, Lords. It was during these matches against England that Denise says she felt most proud. She has had many highlights over her career, but it was hitting the winning runs in the Australian World Cup against England that is her favourite.
Not surprisingly, in 1987 Denise was awarded New South Wales Sportswoman of the Year and runner‑up Australian Sportswoman of the Year. In March 2012 she was inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame. Somehow, during this amazing cricketing career she managed to forge a successful career as a pharmacist. She also married my good friend Ross Anderson. Together they have had three beautiful children: Daniel, John and Jessica. Denise, who is now known by her married name, Denise Anderson, has clearly passed on the sporting genes to her children. They are already finding great success in sport. Both Daniel and John currently play for Northern District Cricket Club. Her husband Ross is also heavily involved in cricket in the Hornsby district as Director of Operations and Secretary of the West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club.
Denise is still involved in local Hornsby sporting groups, mentoring and helping young sports stars—and not just in cricket. She has managed teams in the Northern District Cricket Club as well as the Asquith Magpies Rugby League teams. She was named coach of the year in 2015 at the Warrawee Junior Netball Club. She dedicated six years as a junior coach at the West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club as well as training young representative players who aspire to follow in her footsteps. It begs the question: Is there any sport this woman cannot do? Denise is an amazing sportswoman, and I congratulate her on being awarded an Honorary Life Membership of the MCC. I also take this opportunity to thank her for continuing to give back to the Hornsby sporting community, and for making such a great difference to our country.
