A flamboyant all-rounder, Sthalekar is a hard hitting batsman and bowls offspin. Born in India, she plays for New South Wales and scored her maiden Test hundred against England in 2003. She also averages under twenty with the ball in Test cricket. Sthalekar has enjoyed a satisfying run of form in recent times, including a half-century against India in the 2006 Test at the Adelaide Oval where she also took her career-best, 5 for 30, in the second innings as Australia won by an innings and four runs. In the 2006-07 season she guided the New South Wales Breakers to their ninth Women's National Cricket League title in 11 years scoring 83 in the final. In February 2007, Sthalekar, now the vice-captain of Australia, won the Women's International Cricketer of the Year for Australia, edging out Karen Rolton, the captain, by one vote. And she was up for a further honour, too, being shortlisted for the ICC Women's Player of the Year in 2007, which was won in its first year, by Rolton.
Cricinfo Staff September 2007