5 notable 'pairs' who have given cricket a new look altogether

Peter and Sara McGlashan of New Zealand.Cricket, termed as a ‘gentleman’s game’ has produced some fine, enthralling talents over time. Representatives have come across generations to represent their country, state or even local districts.Although the male section of the society has more dominance over the game, there isn’t any dearth for women representatives, with women’s cricket also gathering some steam and growing.Although many families have seen mostly men from their households playing cricket on the international level, there have been a few families, where even the lady sect has stepped foot on the big level. These are the duo of siblings or even a married pair who have played cricket together. While most countries have mainly had male cricket representatives over time, these pairs have given cricket a new look altogether.

#5 Roger Prideaux and Ruth Westbrook [England]

The only married Test match players.

Roger Prideaux was an English cricketer, who represented England in just three test matches in a span of one year, from 1968-1969. A genuine opener who was known for his adept stroke making capabilities, he captained the English county team Kent for four years, after which he was elected as the first Chairman of the Professionals Cricket Association(PCA). He married Women’s England cricket team member Ruth Westbrook.

Ruth Westbrook played 11 test matches for the English Women's team in the span of 5-6 years. Immediately after retirement, she took over the role of coaching and managing the team.

The pair of Roger and Ruth are the only married couple to have played Test cricket.

#4 Terry and Denise Alderman [Australia]

Denise and Terry Alderman of Australia

Terry Alderman, termed by his fellow cricket colleagues as the “smiling assassin”, fit right into the term. He holds the record for being the only bowler to take more than 40 wickets in a series twice. Often he made bowling look as easy as running a knife through hot butter.

On the other hand, Denise was a right-hand batswoman. She played her trade for New South Wales and Western Australia. She ended her ODI and test career with splendid but almost identical averages of 41.00 and 41.27 respectively. Adding to her bond with cricket is also the fact that she is married to ex-international umpire Ross Emerson.

Unique record

The Alderman siblings hold the record for being the first brother-sister pair to play international cricket on the same day on 3 February 1985. While Terry faced off against Sri Lanka at the WACA, Denise played against the England Women's team in Melbourne.

#3 The McGlashans [New Zealand]

The McGlashan siblings, Sara and Peter

Although New Zealand has a huge fan following over the game of rugby with a little amount of population left to ponder over cricket, New Zealand has produced some great cricketing talent over time and even wonderful sets of siblings like the Harrises, Cairnses, and Astles, who have all represented their families through a common medium, Cricket.

One of the most prominent pairs is the brother-sister duo of Peter and Sara McGlashan. Although a gentleman’s game, Peter, who represented New Zealand in two T20 internationals and 4 ODI matches, fell behind Sara in terms of stats as Sara made her debut earlier than Peter, (2002 and 2006 respectively) although she was younger.

Sara has represented the Black caps in two Test matches, 80 ODIs and 16 T20 matches.

#2 The Joyce family [Ireland]

Ed Joyce(first from left) and Isobel Joyce (middle)

The Joyce family from Ireland can be one of the most proudest families in their country, having produced the famed quartet of cricketing gems in their family.

Ed Joyce, the prominent and only left-handed batsman in his family, has represented Ireland and England. He has two sisters, Isobel Joyce and Cecelia Joyce. His brother, Dominick Joyce finishes the quartet, who have all represented the Ireland national cricket team.

Isobel and Cecelia, Ed’s twin sisters are both right-handed batswomen. Isobel is a left-arm medium pacer while Cecelia bowls occasional leg breaks. Dominick is also a right handed batsman who has represented two English county teams Middlesex and Somerset.

#1 Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy [Australia]

Starc, with his fiance Alyssa after Australia’s World Cup victory.

The pair of Mitchell Starc and Alyssa Healy is the newest, and one of the most talked about pairs in cricket. After the Ashes series in 2015, Australian skipper Michael Clarke announced that Starc was engaged to Alyssa.

Starc, arguably the world’s best left-arm paceman who can trouble the batsman with his tremendous pace, swing and deadly yorkers came out to the media in the year 2014, stating that he was seeing Alyssa.

Alyssa, who also happens to be the niece of Australian great Ian Healy, is the current wicketkeeper of the Australian Women’s cricket team.