A. T. Collins OBE

1915 – 14 February 2010

England Women, Middlesex women, South Women, Home Counties Women, East Women

Right hand bat, right arm medium fast

Audrey Collins was born to a British father and Australian mother in what is now called Musuri. Her father died during war and in 1920 her mother decided to move to England with her three children. Collins took up cricket early, playing her first match at the age of 12. The game ran in her family; her first cousin was AEJ Collins who famously scored 628 in a Clifton College house match. She went on to play at Royal School, Bath, where she was captained by Myrtle Maclagan and was later secretary and captain of the University of London. She played in a number of representative teams, most notably the South from 1937 to 1955. She played her last match at the age of 70 for the team she co-founded, the Vagabonds. 

She made her one and only Test appearance for England in 1936 against the Australians at the Oval. Coming in at No.8 and being told to “get on with the job” and went on to make 27 in partnership of 54 with Betty Archdale in only half an hour. She was subsequently selected to go on the 1939-40 tour to Australia which cancelled due to the outbreak of the Second World War. 

Continuing to play in numerous representative teams, following retirement Collins remained involved with the game acting as an umpire and scorer. She was involved with cricket administration for 49 years, from becoming secretary of the East in 1945 to being the longest Women’s Cricket Association President in office from 1983 to 1994. She led the WCA through some of its most trying times as membership and income declined, but with determination was able to keep the game going. The 50th jubilee tour to Australia in 1987 and 1993 Women’s Cricket World Cup would not have happened but for her fundraising efforts. Throughout her career, she was tireless in promoting and coaching the game to girls, she managed a Young England team to Holland and was part of twelve further tours overseas.  She had the honour of being one of the first ten MCC female members inducted in 1999. She was awarded the OBE in 1988 for her services to women’s cricket. She continued to campaign to raise funds for the women’s game until late into her life. 

Following her death in 2010, the England Women’s Cricket Team wore black armbands during the second ODI whilst on tour in India and both teams observed a minute’s silence before play. A memorial match was also played in her honour.