Frances Leonard is a former Australian women’s cricketer who represented Australia in One Day International (ODI) cricket during the 1980s. A right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler, she also played domestic cricket for the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia women’s teams. Her international career was brief, but her domestic record includes 30 first-class wickets in 17 matches.
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Frances Leonard Career Stats
| Format | Career | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 50s | 100s | Wickets | BBI | Bowl Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODICareer source | 1986–1986 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — |
This compact table is rendered directly from the shared per-format source selection; recorded-only rows are explicitly labelled. Detailed opponent, venue, year and dismissal analysis remains on the full stats page.
Frances Leonard
/cricket-player/frances-leonard/Each format uses one source consistently. Recorded-only figures are labelled separately.
Career source
Frances Leonard: Player Profile
Frances Jane Leonard
Australian former women’s cricketer
Born: 23 August 1964
Birthplace: Mildura, Victoria, Australia
Batting: Right-handed
Bowling: Right-arm medium
International team: Australia Women
Profile information:
Wikipedia
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Early Life and Background
Frances Jane Leonard was born on 23 August 1964 in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. She developed her cricket career during a period when women’s cricket was building its profile through domestic competitions and international one-day matches.
Detailed public information about her childhood, education, family and early cricket coaches is limited. Therefore, these aspects of her personal life cannot be described reliably without additional sources.
Domestic Cricket Career
Leonard played domestic cricket for two Australian state or territory women’s teams during her career.
- Australian Capital Territory: She represented the territory’s women’s team from 1978 to 1982.
- Western Australia: She later played for Western Australia’s women’s team between 1985 and 1990.
Her domestic record shows that she contributed with both bat and ball. Across 17 first-class matches, she scored 248 runs and claimed 30 wickets. Her best recorded first-class bowling figures were five wickets for 22 runs.
Wikipedia
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These figures suggest that bowling was an important part of her contribution to domestic cricket. However, the available statistics alone do not establish her exact role in every team or season.
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International Career for Australia
Leonard’s international career included one women’s One Day International against New Zealand.
She made her ODI debut on 23 January 1986, during Australia’s tour of New Zealand in the 1985–86 season. The match was played at Hutt Recreation Ground in Lower Hutt as part of the Rose Bowl series.
IMG Cricket
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Frances Leonard’s ODI debut
In the match against New Zealand, Australia batted first and scored 171 runs before being dismissed in 59.3 overs. Leonard scored two runs before being bowled by Karen Gunn.
New Zealand successfully chased the target, reaching 172 for five in 58.2 overs to win by five wickets. Leonard bowled eight overs, including one maiden, and conceded 22 runs without taking a wicket.
IMG Cricket
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Although Leonard’s international appearance did not produce a major individual performance, the scorecard confirms her place in Australia’s team during the 1985–86 tour.
Frances Leonard Career Statistics
The following figures are drawn from the available career summary.
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| Statistic | ODI | First-class | List A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 1 | 17 | 11 |
| Runs | 2 | 248 | 80 |
| Highest score | 2 | 49 | 27 |
| Batting average | 2.00 | 24.80 | 8.88 |
| Wickets | 0 | 30 | 7 |
| Best bowling | — | 5/22 | 3/45 |
| Bowling average | — | 16.03 | 45.57 |
Note: First-class and List A are domestic statistical categories here. They should not be confused with international Test and ODI appearances.
Batting Style and Bowling Strengths
Batting
Leonard was a right-handed batter. Her highest recorded first-class score was 49, narrowly short of a half-century. In List A cricket, her highest score was 27.
Her recorded domestic batting average was higher in first-class matches than in List A matches. This describes her statistical record, but does not by itself explain her batting position or preferred approach at the crease.
Wikipedia
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Bowling
Leonard bowled right-arm medium pace. Her first-class record of 30 wickets in 17 matches includes a five-wicket haul, with best figures of 5/22.
In her ODI appearance against New Zealand, she delivered eight overs for 22 runs and took no wickets. Her domestic wicket-taking record was considerably more productive than this single international bowling performance.
Wikipedia
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Major Career Highlights
Leonard’s documented career highlights include:
- Representing Australia Women in international ODI cricket.
- Making her international debut against New Zealand on 23 January 1986.
- Playing domestic cricket for the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia women’s teams.
- Taking 30 wickets in 17 first-class matches.
- Recording first-class best bowling figures of 5/22.
- Scoring 248 first-class runs, with a highest score of 49.
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These achievements provide a factual overview of her playing career without assigning her awards, tournament titles or other accomplishments that are not confirmed by the available records.
Frances Leonard’s Cricket Legacy
Frances Leonard belongs to the history of Australian women’s cricket in the 1970s and 1980s. Her career included domestic appearances across two Australian teams and an opportunity to represent Australia on the international stage.
Her international record was limited to one ODI, but her domestic figures offer a broader view of her playing experience. In particular, her 30 first-class wickets and best bowling figures of 5/22 stand out in the available statistical record.
As with many players from earlier generations of women’s cricket, publicly accessible biographical details are less extensive than those available for modern international stars. Her documented match records nevertheless provide a reliable foundation for understanding her contribution to the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Frances Leonard?
Frances Leonard is a former Australian women’s cricketer who represented Australia in one ODI against New Zealand in January 1986.
Wikipedia
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When was Frances Leonard born?
She was born on 23 August 1964 in Mildura, Victoria, Australia.
Wikipedia
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What was Frances Leonard’s batting and bowling style?
She was a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium bowler.
Wikipedia
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How many international matches did Frances Leonard play?
The available profile records one women’s ODI and no Test or T20 International appearances.
Wikipedia
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How many runs did Frances Leonard score in her ODI career?
She scored two runs in her single ODI appearance against New Zealand.
IMG Cricket
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How many first-class wickets did Frances Leonard take?
She took 30 wickets in 17 first-class matches, with best bowling figures of five wickets for 22 runs.
Wikipedia
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Which domestic teams did Frances Leonard represent?
She played for the Australian Capital Territory women’s team from 1978 to 1982 and Western Australia’s women’s team from 1985 to 1990.
Wikipedia
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Conclusion
Frances Leonard was an Australian women’s cricketer whose career spanned domestic cricket and a brief international appearance in the 1980s. While she played only one ODI for Australia, her domestic record of 30 first-class wickets, a best bowling performance of 5/22 and 248 first-class runs documents a meaningful period of participation in Australian women’s cricket. Her career is best understood through these verified match records, which preserve her place in the history of the sport.