A girl left at the doorstep of an orphanage went on to captain the Australian Women's National Cricket team and later became the first women player to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Women's International Cricket. She won the Belinda Clark Award for 2007 and 2008. The all rounder is only 4th women cricketer to be included in the Australian cricket Hall of Fame and was also the first women cricketer to be included in ICC Hall of Fame in August 2020. She played 3 world cups for Australian women cricket team and captained one victory before announcing her retirement in 2013. This remarkable woman cricketer is Lisa Sthalekar.
If you are a cricket fan, you must have heard of Lisa. She is the most befitting example of individual capabilities and destinity, combined. Lisa was born in Pune, to be left at the doorstep of an orphanage by parents who might not have ability to bring up a child. Luckily the orphanage took charge of the baby girl and named her Laila. A couple, Sue and Haren from USA were visiting Pune, to adopt a boy from an orphanage. They happened to be where Laila was being raised. Sue liked Laila's big, brown eyes and fall in love with her. The couple decided to adopt the girl - Laila, abandoning their original plan for a boy. They completed the paper work and Laila was renamed as Lisa. Thus the girl travelled to USA. Later Lisa's parents shifted to Kenya for sometime in connection of their missionary work, before finally shifting and settling in Sydney where Lisa's formative years were spent.
Lisa got the interest of cricket from her father who used to play with her in backyard of their house. Later, she played with boys in the street and went on to play domestic cricket in Australia. As an all-rounder, right handed bat and off spinner bowler, she played for Australian national team from 2001-2013, captaining 93 One Days, 143 Tests and 11 T20s. Holder of a number of records, a very successful captain, Lisa has played many incredible games and led Australia to remarkable victories, winning millions of hearts.
Who would have imaginged such a future for a girl left at the doorstep of an orphanage in India?
(Expressed opinions are personal.)
