SYDNEY: Former Australia captain Belinda Clark on Thursday became the first woman cricketer to have a sculpture unveiled in her honour.

The World Cup-winning captain, prolific run scorer and key figure in the off-field development of the sport was immortalised in bronze outside the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“I’m excited to have the sculpture in place and for people to now look at it and perhaps wonder what that is, who that is and to be able to tell a bit of a story is really important,” Clark said at the unveiling ceremony.

“The sculpture encapsulates being able to have a go -– to be courageous, to take on those challenges and break convention.”

Her sculpture stands alongside other Australian greats including Richie Benaud and Steve Waugh.

Clark was captain for 12 years before retiring in 2005 and compiled a formidable record, including leading her country to two World Cups triumphs in 1997 and 2005.

She holds the record for the most one-day international runs scored by an Australian woman -– 4,844 runs in 118 matches at an average of 47.49 -– while hitting 919 in 15 Test matches.

Clark also famously became the first person to score an ODI double century when she smashed 229 runs from just 155 balls against Denmark in 1997.

Her achievements off the field were equally impressive.

As chief executive of Women’s Cricket Australia, she was pivotal in helping combine the administration of men’s and women’s cricket in Australia.

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