Match Highlights: Women cricketers who succeeded in other sports — from Perry to Viljoen – Key Moments

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 will bring together the world’s top teams — Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, and Sri Lanka — in a bid to reach the final on 2 November.

Reaching the top in cricket demands skill, commitment, and resilience — but for some elite women cricketers, that excellence has extended into other sports at the international level.

Here’s a look at some of the most versatile women cricketers who also competed in sports like football, basketball, javelin, squash, and more.

Rachael Heyhoe Flint – Field Hockey (England)

Rachael Heyhoe Flint, England’s captain from 1966 to 1978, was the first woman to hit a six in a Test match (1973) and a key figure in organizing the inaugural 1973 Women’s World Cup, predating the men’s version.

In addition to cricket, she played field hockey for England as a goalkeeper in 1964 and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010.

Ellyse Perry – Football (Australia)

A two-time Women’s Cricket World Cup winner, Ellyse Perry is one of the greatest dual-sport athletes in history. She debuted for Australia in both cricket and football at age 16.

Perry represented Australia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and played for clubs like Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC. She has also won six T20 World Cup titles in cricket.

Clare Taylor – Football (England)

Clare Taylor, a fast bowler with 127 wickets in 121 matches, won the 1993 Women’s World Cup at Lord’s before representing England at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

She played domestic cricket for Yorkshire and football for Bronte and Liverpool Ladies, making her the first English woman to represent her country in both sports.

Suzie Bates – Basketball (New Zealand)

New Zealand’s Suzie Bates played basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics before choosing to focus full-time on cricket in 2011.

Bates went on to win ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year twice and was named T20I Cricketer of the Year in 2016.

Sunette Viljoen – Javelin (South Africa)

Sunette Viljoen made her ODI debut for South Africa at just 17 and played in the 2000 ICC Women’s World Cup. After switching to athletics, she won silver in javelin at the 2016 Rio Olympics and gold at two Commonwealth Games.

Viljoen returned to domestic cricket in 2021 with Northerns and later the Lions Women team.

Tazmin Brits – Javelin (South Africa)

Tazmin Brits qualified for the 2012 Olympics in javelin before a serious car crash forced her to withdraw. She spent three months in hospital and had to relearn how to walk.

Brits made a remarkable comeback, debuting in cricket for South Africa in 2018 and becoming a two-time ICC Women’s T20 World Cup finalist.

Betty Snowball – Squash and Lacrosse (Scotland/England)

Betty Snowball played 15 years of international cricket between 1934 and 1949. She scored 189 against New Zealand in 1935, which stood as the women’s Test record for over 50 years.

Snowball also represented Scotland in squash and lacrosse, and even umpired a women’s Test in 1951.

Jess Duffin – Aussie Rules Football (Australia)

Jess Duffin (née Cameron) top-scored in the 2013 Women’s World Cup final and was named Player of the Match.

She later pursued Aussie Rules Football, playing for Collingwood, North Melbourne, and Hawthorn in the AFLW before retiring from cricket in 2023.

Duffin was also the first female cricketer to use Cricket Australia’s parental leave policy.

Sporting excellence beyond the boundary

From Olympic medals to FIFA World Cup appearances, these cricketers have achieved extraordinary success across disciplines — further proof that the women’s game is filled with multi-talented athletes breaking boundaries on and off the field.

As the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup approaches, their stories serve as an inspiring reminder of the depth and diversity of talent in the global game.