Test star Megan Lowe celebrates 99 not out with Lydia Greenway
Tuesday 18th November 2014
FORMER England women’s Test star Megan Lowe celebrated her 99th birthday with a surprise visitor.
Kent and England batsman Lydia Greenway paid the former England bowler a visit at her Canterbury home.
The 99-year-old was overjoyed to welcome the 29-year-old women’s star in a landmark year where England women received professional contracts.
Mrs Lowe, a retired schoolteacher, said: “I think it’s marvellous that the women’s game is now developing without the level of publicity it deserves.
“It’s great that the women and girls now get the coaches and support to play the game.
“In the 1940s, we only had a secretary and we had to coach ourselves.
“The uniforms have changed since my day – we wore skirts and blazers.”
The former Test bowler started playing cricket at school before the war and played for village clubs.
Mrs Lowe scored a century aged 16 before moving to Kent and playing for England either side of the war including in the 1948 Ashes, which meant a round-the-world voyage by sea.
Kent Cricket have invited Mrs Lowe as a special guest to attend the Women’s Ashes Kia Test at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence next summer.
Mrs Lowe is looking forward to the showpiece on August 11-14, 2015 – in her 100th year.
The former medium-pacer said: “It will be brilliant for the women’s game and hopefully more TV and radio coverage will encourage more girls to play the game.”
Lowe took a hat-trick against Ceylon and toured Australia and New Zealand aged 17.
“We played all the States in Australia and met Sir Don Bradman at Melbourne Cricket Ground before the Second Test.”
Lydia Greenway was pleased to meet a legend of the women’s game: “It was fantastic to meet Megan and hear about the England women’s game in the early days.
“It made me realise how much progress we are making in women’s cricket and it’s great to have the support of Megan who played in the early Ashes tours and helped put women's cricket on the map.”
Entry to Kent v Australia on June 25-28 and the four-day Women's Ashes Kia Test on August 11-14 is included in Kent All Rounder and Championship Plus Memberships and is also an option for Six Pack package holders.