Michael Slater, the late Mollie Dive OAM and the late Arthur Mailey will be inducted into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame during tomorrow evening’s Steve Waugh Medal Dinner at the Hilton Sydney (April 2).
The three players are being recognised for significant contributions to NSW cricket during their distinguished careers, as well as their achievements at the International level.
A product of the Riverina, Michael Slater played 74 Tests for Australia between 1993 and 2001, scoring 5,312 runs at 43.83 with a top score of 219.
He made his Test debut in 1993 against England, making 58 at Old Trafford before scoring a memorable 152 at Lord’s.
This was the first of Slater’s 14 Test hundreds.
Slater also played 42 One Day Internationals making 987 runs at 24.07, and 74 First Class matches for NSW during which time he hit 5,257 runs at 39.23.
Mollie Dive grew up on Sydney’s North Shore. She learned her cricket through backyard battles with her neighbours and family, including her father who played one match for NSW in 1924/25.
Dive started playing club cricket after entering university in 1932. The following year she made her State debut and was made NSW captain in 1938.
She has the distinction of leading Australia in her Test debut against New Zealand in Wellington in 1948. In all, she represented her country on seven occasions before taking up a role as a selector and administration upon her retirement.
Arthur Mailey was a prolific leg-spin bowler. He took 99 wickets in 21 Tests for Australia, including five wickets in an innings on six occasions.
His best figures of 9-121, achieved during the fourth Test of the 1920/21 series against England, remain the most wickets taken by an Australian in a single Test innings.
In 67 First Class matches for NSW, Mailey returned an astonishing 334 wickets.
This stood as a record for the most wickets taken by a New South Welshman for 60 years until it was broken by Geoff Lawson during the 1989/90 season.
He is one of only four people to have dismissed both Victor Trumper and Don Bradman, but the only bowler to have done this twice!
Cricket NSW Chief Executive Andrew Jones said Slater, Dive and Mailey were wonderful additions to the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame.
“The induction of Michael Slater, Mollie Dive and Arthur Mailey into the Cricket NSW Hall of Fame recognises the significant achievements of these players, and their contribution to the sport in this State,” he said.
“Michael Slater was one of the most exciting batsmen of his era and a joy to watch, Mollie Dive was a key figure during a pioneering age of women’s cricket, while Arthur Mailey enjoyed a phenomenal record as a leg-spin bowler.
“They now sit alongside the likes of Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O’Reilly, Belinda Clark and Steve Waugh. It is a terrific achievement about which Michael, his family and the families of Arthur and Mollie can be very proud,” he said.
2015 Cricket NSW Hall of Fame Inductees – Full Biographies
Mollie Dive OAM
Born: 26 June 1913, Five Dock, NSW | Died: 10 September 1913, Roseville NSW
NSW 1933 – 1951
Australia 1948 – 1951
Mollie Dive learned her cricket in the backyard through many battles with her neighbours and family, including her father who played one match for NSW during the 1924/25 season.
She went to school at Roseville College before moving to Pymble Ladies College. However, she did not join her first cricket team until she entered university.
Dive represented NSW from 1933 to 1951 and was made captain of the State in 1938.
She also has the distinction of leading Australia in her Test debut in 1948 against New Zealand in Wellington.
That same year, she became the first woman to enter the Members’ Stand at the SCG by invitation during a Test between Australia and England.
Dive’s International career lasted seven matches, during which she scored 177 runs with a top score of 77.
At the end of her playing career she took on a role as a NSW and Australian selector before becoming an administrator with the NSW Women’s Cricket Association and the Australian Women’s Cricket Council.
In 1987 Mollie Dive was awarded an OAM for services to cricket with one of the stands at North Sydney Oval also named in her honour.
Arthur Mailey
Born: 3 January 1886, Zetland NSW | Died: 31 December 1967, Kirrawee NSW
NSW 1912/13 – 1929/30
Australia 1920/21 – 1926
Arthur Mailey played 21 Tests for Australia and took 99 wickets with his leg spin, including five wickets in an innings on six occasions.
Known as a big spinner of the ball, his 9-121 in the fourth Test against England during the 1920/21 series remains the most wickets taken by an Australian in a single Test innings.
During the 1924/25 series against England, Arthur shared in a 127 run 10th wicket partnership with Johnny Taylor.
This was an Australian record until Phillip Hughes and Ashton Agar put on 163 against England back in 2013.
Arthur played 67 matches for NSW for a phenomenal return of 334 wickets.
This stood as a record for the most wickets taken by a New South Welshman for 60 years until it was finally broken in 1989/90 by Geoff Lawson.
Arthur took five or more wickets in an innings 28 times while representing his State, and 10 wickets in a match on six occasions.
He took seven wickets in an innings seven times, which is second only to Charles Turner who achieved that feat on nine occasions.
He is one of only four bowlers to dismiss both Victor Trumper and Don Bradman, and the only bowler to dismiss both twice.
Michael Slater
Born: 21 February 1970, Wagga Wagga NSW
NSW 1991/92 – 2003/04
Australia 1993 – 2001
Michael Slater made his Test debut during the 1993 Ashes Series, scoring a half-century at Old Trafford, followed by a memorable 152 at Lord’s.
He went on to wear the Baggy Green in 74 matches, scoring 5,312 runs at an average of 42.83 with a top score of 219.
Slater made 14 centuries and 21 half-centuries.
He also played 42 One Day Internationals and was part of Australia’s squad for the 1996 World Cup.
In this format he made 987 runs at 24.07, with nine half-centuries and a top score of 73.
Michael Slater played 74 First Class matches for NSW, scoring 5,257 runs at 39.23.
He reached triple figures 13 times with a highest score of 204.
He scored 1,139 runs in 53 Limited Overs appearances for NSW with one century and seven scores above 50.
Cricket NSW Hall of Fame Members
2008: Richie Benaud OBE, Sir Donald Bradman AC, Alan Davidson AM MBE, Ray Lindwall MBE, Charlie Macartney, Arthur Morris MBE, Billy Murdoch, Bill O’Reilly, Bob Simpson AO AM, Victor Trumper, Charles Turner AO, Steve Waugh AO
2009: Warren Bardsley, Belinda Clark AM, Mark Taylor AO
2010: Lyn Larsen, Stan McCabe, Mark Waugh AM
2011: Hazel Pritchard, Monty Noble, Glenn McGrath AM
2012: Denise Annetts, Fred Spoffoth, Doug Walters MBE
2013: Amy Hudson, Greg Matthews, Norm O’Neill
2014: Brian Booth MBE, Geoff Lawson OAM, Margaret Peden
