Erin Osborne

If we only talk about natural talent, then no one comes closer to the talent that Erin Osborne possessed in her prime. She was such a gifted cricketer and was regarded as one of the best players produced in Australian cricket.

An all-rounder by profession, Osborne made her international debut in 2009 on the back of a stellar domestic season with New South Wales. However, she found it difficult to cement her place in the national side and was constantly in and out of the team.

A crafty right-arm off-break bowler with an ability to chip in crucial runs with the bat, Osborne had to wait for her opportunity and it eventually came to her. She performed exceedingly well in the 2009 domestic season and was drafted in the Australian squad for the 2009 World Cup which was held in Australia. 

Osborne showed her skills with the ball in that tournament and finished with 9 wickets, at an average o just 19.77.

Her stock rose at the international level and soon she became a regular feature for the Aussie side. Osborne was picked up in the Australian squad for the 2010 ICC Women’s World T20, but she played only a solitary game and was dropped in the crucial semi-final game against India. 

The Taree born continued to be a part of the Aussie side and also got an opportunity to make her Test debut in 2013 against England. Her debut Test match was a snoozefest, but Osborne proved that she was a true star. The Aussie all-rounder grabbed 4 wickets in the first innings to completely rattle the England middle order.

In the next three years, opportunities were less and eventually, Osborne was dropped from the national side. Currently, she plays for the Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League. 

(As of October 2021)