Born 3rd March 1956 in Karoonda, South Australia, former Test and ODI player for Australia, Lyn Fullston was nicknamed “Lefty”. “Because of her left arm bowling!” according to former team manager Ann Mitchell.
Lyn made her debut for South Australia in 1978/9. Her international debut came in the World Cup of 1981/2 in New Zealand against India. She took 0-8 from her seven overs. It was hard for the Aussie bowlers to take a wicket that day – there were five runouts.
What it did demonstrate was Lyn’s ability to strangle the run scoring from her bowling. In 41 ODIs, Lyn took 73 wickets at just 13.26 runs per wicket with an economy of 2.45 and a best of 5-27. She was a potent weapon in that format and no less in Test cricket.
Lyn made her Test debut on the 1983/4 tour to India where she became the “go-to” bowler for captain Jill Kennare. In the first Test, played at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi, Lefty took 4-54 from 25 overs in the first innings and 3-41 from 27 overs in the second innings. Her average number of overs per Test match was just over fifty!
At Bombay in the 4th Test of that series, Lyn bowled 67 in the first and 45 in the second. It epitomised her courage and her never-say-die attitude.
“Lefty was a great bowler but the batters in the team always seemed to win player of the match! Lefty might get 4 wickets and turn a game around but a batter who scored 60 runs was given the award quite often! Lefty was also a very determined player like Raelee Thompson and would fight till the end!” – tour Manager 1983/4 Ann Mitchell
Lyn played 12 Tests for Australia taking 41 wickets at 25.43. Her handy runs in the lower order left her with an average of 31.66. She also took 20 catches to highlight just how important this player was in the Australian team. Lyn was taken far too early, losing the fight to cancer in 2008.
- 39 World Cup wickets. The most by any female player.
- Represented Australia at Netball
- Represented SA in soccer and football