Thomas, who passed away aged 90, praised her “pioneering contribution” to cricket.
The first Indigenous woman to represent Australia in sport has been hailed for her “pioneering contribution” to cricket after she died aged 90.
Faith Thomas (née Coulthard) fought against England in Melbourne in 1958, becoming the first Indigenous woman to play a Test match for Australia and the first to play for an Australian sports team, Cricket Australia said Monday.
A formidable fast bowler, she trained as a nurse before learning that women played organized cricket. Her career started when she was invited by a colleague to participate in a club competition in Adelaide.
After just three matches, Thomas was selected to represent South Australia and played her first test the following year.
She was chosen to tour England and New Zealand, but daunted by the prospect of a long sea voyage, Thomas instead devoted herself to nursing, becoming one of the first native nurses.
She died on Saturday as Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley praised her “great and pioneering contribution to cricket and the community”.
“This is a very sad day for all those who are lucky enough to have known her or who have been touched by her many accomplishments,” he added.
“As the first Aboriginal woman to represent Australia in Test cricket, Faith was an inspiration to those who followed her and leaves an indelible mark on the game.”
In a tribute on Twitter, Hannah Darlington, an Indigenous cricketer who plays for Sydney Thunder, praised Thomas as a “true pioneer”.
The woman who paved the way for Indigenous cricketers like myself to have the dream of playing cricket for Australia. A true pioneer who will be greatly missed ❤️ https://t.co/sYuoLUzegl
— Hannah Darlington (@HDarlington28) April 17, 2023
Cricket journalist and broadcaster Melinda Farrell, who has interviewed Thomas, said she was “an absolute cracker, a real force of nature” who loved to tell stories.
So sad to hear of Faith Thomas passing. I was lucky enough to interview her a few times. She was an absolute cracker, a real force of nature. She liked to talk about the time in 1958 when she bowled the England captain and sent the punch flying over the keeper’s head. 1/2
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) April 17, 2023
Born to an Indigenous mother and a German father in 1933, Thomas was brought up by her mother to grow up at Colebrook Home for Aboriginal Children in Quorn, South Australia.
As a child, she played cricket on dirt roads, often using improvised bats made of wood and a stone as a ball. She joked that her blistering pace came from throwing rocks at galahs as a kid.
She played her last club cricket match in the early 1960s when she focused on her work as a nurse and midwife in remote and impoverished communities.
“The story of Faith Thomas is as inspiring as it is incredible,” said William Rayner, president of the South Australian Cricket Association.
“Aunt Faith, a leader in medicine, sports, reconciliation and more, has left footprints for others to follow in the decades since. A brilliantly unique and successful cricketer, Aunty Faith was never just about personal achievement – instead, she always looked for ways to improve the lives of others.
Only four Indigenous cricketers have ever played Test cricket, with Jason Gillespie the most successful. Others are Scott Boland and Ashleigh Gardner.
Thomas was awarded the Order of Australia for outstanding service or achievement in 2009 and was retroactively awarded a baggy green cap as the 48th Australian woman to play Test cricket.
The Adelaide Strikers honor her by playing for the Faith Thomas Trophy in the Women’s Big Bash League every year. She was also recognized in Adelaide Oval’s Avenue of Honor as a legend of the game.