Highest run-getter in Women's Test cricket Jan Brittin passes away

The highest run getter in Women’s Test cricket, Jan Brittin, passed away on Monday (September 11). Brittin died at the age of 58. The prolific batter represented England Women in 27 Tests and 63 ODIs during her playing career. She aggregated 1935 runs in Test cricket and averaged 49.61 with the bat. Her tally of runs continues to be the highest in Women’s Test.

Former English skipper Charlotte Edwards comes in next in the list with 1676 runs to her name. Jan Brittin is the only lady cricketer to have scored 16 fifties and 5 centuries in the longest format of the game. She was a part of the English women side that lifted the Women’s World Cup in 1993.

After her sad demise, the Surrey Cricket Club will be paying a tribute to her by raising the Surrey flag half mast during the ongoing County fixture against Yorkshire. Ebony Rainford-Brent, Director of Women’s Cricket of Surrey, noted that Jan Brittin was a fun character to be around. She hailed Brittin as one of the greatest female cricketers of all time.

“JB was such an inspiration to me and many others growing up who were able to watch or play with one of the greatest female cricketers of all time. As a character she was fun, engaging and always generous in her knowledge, particularly when she gave back as a coach later in her career. Her records speak for themselves the class of player she was and will stand the test of time. She will be sorely missed by the Surrey community, and we as a county are sending out our condolences to her loved ones and family,” Ebony quoted.

Contribution to English cricket

Clare Connor, Director of England Women’s Cricket, also spoke on the same lines hailing the contributions Jan Brittin made to the growth of the game in the country. As per the quotes in the official website of Surrey, she remarked that Jan was born to play the longest format of the game. She further recalled the time when she was welcomed by Brittin in the English side.

Brittin’ conventional style of play combined with occasional innovations made her a special player of her era. Despite having such high stature in the game, Jan Brittin carried herself with utmost modesty, a trait that most players revered her for.

“In a year when England have again won the World Cup at Lord’s, we should not forget the huge contribution JB made to the development and success of women’s cricket in this country. For girls of my generation she was our first real female role model. She batted with grace and timing – a classical opener, so beautiful to watch. She was also a brilliantly athletic cover fielder,” quoted Connor.

“JB was born to play Test cricket and it’s unlikely that her record in this format will ever be beaten. She also had a fine record in the one-day game, and of course she made that significant contribution to England’s World Cup win at Lord’s in 1993,” she added.

“JB will be remembered so fondly by the women’s cricket fraternity as well as by her numerous friends in the golfing world. She was a wonderful golfer as I found out when I was lucky enough to play a round with her in Calcutta on my first England tour, aged just 19. I remember feeling star-struck. The irony is not lost on me now, for nobody could have played international sport with more modesty than JB. On behalf of the ECB and the England women’s team, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Jan’s family and friends,” she conceded.