Dubai, Dec 30

 The International Cricket Council (ICC) Monday announced that Debbie Hockley and Bob Simpson will be inducted into their Hall of Fame in a special function in Sydney Jan 2.

Hockley will become the fourth female player after Belinda Clark (Australia), Enid Bakewell and Rachael Heyhoe-Flint (both England), and second cricketer from New Zealand, after Richard Hadlee, to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

Simpson will overall become the 72nd male and 20th from Australia after Richie Benaud, Allan Border, Don Bradman, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell, Neil Harvey, Dennis Lillee, Ray Lindwall, Rodney Marsh, Keith Miller, Bill O'Reilly, Steve Waugh, Victor Trumper, Clarrie Grimmett, Frederick Spofforth, Alan Davidson, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist to be inducted into the elite list.

Born Nov 7, 1962, in Christchurch, Hockley made her international debut in January 1979 featuring in the third Test against Australia in Melbourne. In December 2000, she announced her retirement after the Women's World Cup final in Lincoln where New Zealand beat Australia by 4 runs.

In a career spanning 22 years, Hockley played 19 Tests in which she scored 1,301 runs with four centuries and seven half-centuries, and 118 One-Day Internationals (ODI) in which she mustered 4,064 runs with four centuries and 34 half-centuries. With her in-swing bowling, she took five Test and 20 ODI wickets.

"I am very proud that my contributions to New Zealand cricket in the time I played have been deemed worthy of this honour. I'm very much looking forward to the induction ceremony in Sydney and the fact that my parents have been invited to attend the function will make it even more special," Hockley said.

Simpson, born Feb 3, 1936, in Marrickville, Sydney, played 62 Tests and two ODIs for Australia (1957-1978). His 4,869 Test runs include 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, with his highest score of 311 coming against England in the fourth Ashes Test of the 1964 series at Old Trafford, Manchester.

by:IANS