A true trailblazer: Shepparton’s Raelee Thompson reflects on Australian Cricket Hall of Fame induction

Along with her illustrious international career, she represented Victoria on 45 occasions and served as chairman of selectors for many years, resulting in her receiving life membership from Cricket Victoria in 2018.

Described by many as a pioneer of the women’s game, she recently became the 59th inductee to the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and is one of seven females to be honoured.

Thompson said she was struggling to wrap her head around being part of such an illustrious group of Australian cricketers.

“Firstly, I couldn’t believe it, but then when it sinks in you think, ‘heavens above’, it is just such an honour to be recognised in that way,” Thompson said.

“It is something that you don’t really set out to achieve as a kid, my aim growing up was just to play for the big white V, I just loved playing for Victoria and always wanted to represent my state, everything else just seemed way beyond that and something I couldn’t comprehend.”

Thompson was one of two Australian cricketing legends to join the hall of fame in its 2022 intake, with former coach and opening batter Justin Langer also recognised by the committee.

She said just being mentioned in the same sentence as someone of Langer’s stature was incredibly humbling.

“I am a bit humbled by it, he (Langer) is so well known, and he was so good with his opening partnerships with Matty Hayden, I certainly don’t have anything to compare with him,” she said.

“Being the ninth female inducted into the hall of fame and in the first 60 overall I am very fortunate; the whole concept of a hall of fame is just daunting to think that I am in it alongside all of these absolute legends of Australian cricket.”

Looking over her career, Thompson found it hard to pinpoint any particular highlights, but said the feeling of representing her country on the big stage was something she would always cherish.

“In my day it was just the honour and the thrill of playing for Australia. There was nothing like the baggy green cap, we had our floppy hats and little white Panama cap things, it was very different to what it is now,” she said.

“It (the feeling of playing for Australia) is just fantastic. When we were overseas and the national anthem came on before the game it always made the tears well up in my eyes — you don’t realise how patriotic you are until you represent your country on the international stage like that.”

Although she was a force on the field, Thompson’s impact on the game spans much further than the 22 yards, as she used her platform and knowledge to help springboard the next generation of female cricketers.

Known as one of the trailblazers of the women’s game, Thompson said that title was something she never strived for, as all she wanted to do was give back to the game that gave her so much.

“I never set out to be a trailblazer, I just loved playing the game and it was always a challenge to me,” she said.

“I know a few of the girls like Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes, so it is quite nice to see them recognise me like they did in Canberra, I did have the chance to say a few words to the team and I just love getting involved.”

On deck at Manuka Oval watching Australia and England fight out a thrilling draw in the Ashes Test, Thompson was able to witness how far the women’s game had come since she played some 40 years ago.

Looking back at what she has done for the game, she said she was incredibly proud to have played her part.

“It is strange, I don’t feel as if I have (had that much of an impact), but I know I have — it is very hard to explain it,” she said.

“I feel very proud that I have been through the system, and I suppose you could say I am a building block and all these girls that I’ve coached, and I’ve helped along the way, they are building on what I was able to give to the game.

“I feel like the base of the cricket rock, and I feel that it is only going to get better as the game continues to grow. They are certainly on the way to be being paid equally to the men — and they deserve to be, given how much work they put in.”