Hobson hailed as trailblazer in women’s cricket

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, has hailed former national and West Indies Women's player, Dorothy Hobson OD, as a trailblazer in women's cricket.

Hobson died last Saturday at age 79.

In a release at the weekend, Grange said Hobson distinguished herself as a player, captain, coach, selector, and administrator making an enduring contribution to the sport locally, regionally, and internationally. She was a member of the first ever West Indies women's cricket team and played in the 1973 Women's Cricket World Cup.

In 2013, Dorothy became the first ever female coach of the Melbourne Cricket Club's Camp which was considered a significant step in a traditionally male-dominated set-up, adding to her credentials as a pioneering figure for the club, breaking ground for both women coaches and campers.

She was also manager/coach of the West Indies women's team at the 1993 Women's Cricket World Cup, and later chief selector of the West Indies women's team.

She also played a pivotal role in the relaunch of the Jamaica Women's Cricket League in 2015, revitalising a competition that had been dormant for several years.

Hobson's impact was also felt through her contribution to the development of other sports, including netball, where she supported community and developmental initiatives that strengthened participation and leadership among women and girls.

Her life's work helped to shape generations of women athletes and administrators and laid critical foundations for the growth of women's sport in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

"At this time of bereavement, we offer prayers of comfort and strength to her family and loved ones and honour the extraordinary legacy of a true pioneer of Jamaican and West Indies sport," the release said.

Hobson was primarily a right-arm off-break bowler and a right-handed lower-order batter. Her career spanned two different "national" identities during the early years of organised women's cricket.

She made her one-day international (ODI) debut representing Jamaica in the inaugural 1973 Women's Cricket World Cup. At the time, several Caribbean islands competed as separate nations before the unified West Indies team was fully established.

When the West Indies Women's team was formed for international tours, Hobson was a founding member. She played in the West Indies' first-ever Test match against India in 1976.

Overall she played four Test matches, taking six wickets with a best of two for 22.

She played seven one-day internationals (five for Jamaica and two for West Indies) and took seven wickets.