Tricia Langsford, captain of the Australian Under-23 women's cricket team in 1994, died in Sydney on March 16 following a long battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 30.
A promising all-rounder from New South Wales who was considered a future member of the senior Australian women's team, Trish Langsford was named Player of the Series in the 1991-92 national championships at the age of 20, having taken 17 wickets at 9.88 and scored 99 runs at 24.75. The 1992 edition of the "ABC Australian Cricket Almanac" named her as one of Australia's four women players of the year.
After continuing to display outstanding form for NSW in the next two seasons she was named as captain of the Australia Youth (Under-23) side which played three one-day games and an unofficial test against New Zealand in Toowoomba. Karen Rolton, Melanie Jones, Julia Price and Olivia Magno were among other members of that Australia Youth team. Trish was also player of the year in the Sydney first grade competition in 1990-91 and 1992-93.
As well as being an outstanding cricketer, Trish played first grade hockey as well as tennis at A1 club level.
It was at the age of 23 that she was diagnosed with the multiple sclerosis that was eventually to take her life. She was forced to give up her role as development officer for the New South Wales Women's Cricket Association and was unable to undertake a tour of India at the end of 1994 as captain of the Australian Under-23s.
In 1999, her family and friends established what is now the Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation with the specific goal of working towards finding a cure for, and eventually a prevention of, multiple sclerosis.
Trish's funeral was held at Ravenswood Chapel, Gordon, on Thursday March 21.
Further information, including on-line donation details:
Trish Multiple Sclerosis Research Foundation