Joanna Child scripted history at the age of 64 when she made her international debut for Portugal during a three-match T20I series against Norway recently. At 64 years and 181 days, Joanna Child became the second-oldest T20I debutant in women’s cricket.
The record for oldest cricketer to make her international debut among women is held by Gibraltar’s Sally Barton, who at the age of 66 years and 334 days old, played her first match against Estonia last year.
Overall, the record for oldest T20I debutant is held by Andrew Brownlee of Falkland Islands. The story of Joanna Child should be an inspiration for upcoming cricketers that age is just a barrier and do not lose hope.
Calling Joanna Child an ‘inspiration’, Portugal captain Sarah Foo-Ryland, aged 44, praised the determination of her teammate and said Child will inspire many cricketers in the country.
Meanwhile, Portugal featured a unique age diversity as two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old also played alongside Joanna Child. They are Ishreet Cheema (15), and Mariam Waseem and Afsheen Ahmed (both aged 16).
How Joanna Child fared on debut?
She could score only two runs off eight balls on debut after coming to bat at No.10. She was clean bowled by Ramya Immadi. Joanna Child didn’t get a chance to bat in the next two games. Her only opportunity with the ball came in the second game when the right-arm medium pacer bowled just four deliveries, and conceded 11 runs.
As far as the results of the games are concerned, Portugal won the opening game by 16 runs while defending 109 runs. Norway levelled the series 1-1 after they successfully chased the a target of 137 with eight balls to spare and five wickets in hand in the second game.
The series decider was won by Portugal who won the third game by chasing 125 runs with nine wickets to spare and won the series 2-1.
