Jennifer Gove

Jennifer Anne Gove (born 28 August 1940) is a former South Africa women's Test cricketer. She made seven Test appearances for South Africa between 1960 and 1972, with her 256 runs making her the leading Test run-scorer for her country.

Jennifer Gove

Personal information
Full name	Jennifer Anne Gove
Born	(1940-08-28) 28 August 1940 South Africa
Batting	Right-handed
Role	All-rounder
International information
National side	South Africa
Test debut (cap 2)	2 December 1960 v England
Last Test	24 March 1972 v New Zealand
Domestic team information
Years	Team
unknown	Natal women
Career statistics
Competition Test Matches 7 Runs scored 256 Batting average 25.60 100s/50s 0/1 Top score 51* Balls bowled 284 Wickets 9 Bowling average 31.55 5 wickets in innings 0 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 3/57 Catches/stumpings 10/–
Source: CricketArchive, 18 November 2009

Cricket career

Gove made her debut for South Africa in their maiden Test match. Facing the touring England at St George's Park in Port Elizabeth, Gove batted at number eight in the first innings and number nine in the second, scoring 4 and 40 runs respectively. Her bowling was also used in the match, and she claimed two wickets in the second innings, dismissing Katherine Smith caught and bowled, and trapping Ruth Westbrook leg before wicket.[1] She scored 13 runs in the second match of the series, and did not take a wicket. She took wickets in both of the final two matches, collecting three at Durban and four in Cape Town, and though she did not surpass her innings of 40 runs from the first match, she did accumulate 90 runs across the two games.[2] At the end of the series, she was South Africa's joint-leading wicket-taker, with nine wickets, though Lorna Ward had a superior average, taking her nine at 25.33, in contrast to Gove's 30.55.[3]

Over eleven years later, Gove participated in South Africa's next officially sanctioned women's Test series, played against New Zealand. In the first Test, Gove scored 13 runs in the first innings, and 36 not out in the second, but in the following match, she failed to reach double figures in either innings.[2] In the third and final Test of the series, after a first innings score of 3, Gove remained unbeaten on 51 when South Africa declared their second innings closed.[4] It was the final match of Gove's international career,[2] and the score of 51* remained her highest total in Test cricket.[5] Her seven women's Test appearances for South Africa is the most for the country, level with Ward.[6] Although Gove's total of 256 runs in women's Test cricket is the highest by a South African,[7] her career average of 25.60 is ranked just fifteenth amongst her compatriots.[8]

References

1. "1st Test: South Africa Women v England Women at Port Elizabeth, Dec 2–5, 1960". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
2. "Statistics / Statsguru / JA Gove / Women's Test matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
3. "Women's Test Bowling for South Africa Women: England Women in South Africa 1960/61". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
4. "3rd Test: South Africa Women v New Zealand Women at Johannesburg, Mar 24–27, 1972". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
5. "Player Profile: Jennifer Gove". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
6. "Records / South Africa Women / Women's Test matches / Most matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
7. "Records / South Africa Women / Women's Test matches / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
8. "Records / South Africa Women / Women's Test matches / Highest averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2013.

External links

• Jennifer Gove at CricketArchive (subscription required)