Louisa Caroline (Lily) Gregory

Louisa Caroline Gregory (30 April 1865 – 17 February 1903), known in later life as Louisa Varley, was an Australian cricketer who lived in Sydney, New South Wales. She was one of the founders of Australian women's cricket, playing, coaching, and forming teams in the late 19th century, and played in the first recognised women's cricket games played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 1886.

Early life Her mother Ellen Manwaring had immigrated from England in 1857, and her father Ned Gregory was born in the New South Wales colony. Ned and his younger brother Dave played in the first official Australian team in a Test cricket match against England. Ned's three other brothers, including Charles and Arthur, were also cricketers.

Gregory was born Louisa Caroline Gregory on 30 April 1865 in Bathurst. Her parents and older sister were living there for Ned's professional career playing cricket. The family returned to Paddington in Sydney before 1868.

With their father becoming the first curator of the SCG, or the Association Ground, as it was known at the time, Gregory and all of her siblings became cricket players. All of her sisters Nellie, Alice, and Gertrude all played in the women's cricket matches with her, and their two brothers Charles and Syd, became notable cricketers in the men's events. Their cousin Jack, the son of their uncle Charles, also became a notable player.

Cricket career Along with her sister Nellie, Gregory established women's cricket in Australia, forming teams and coaching players, despite some areas of society of the time disapproving of women playing the sport. The game was played for charity, and it was approximated that there were 3500 spectators. The game was accompanied by the performance of the Permanent Artillery band. Gregory took six wickets for 14 runs in the first innings, then 3 for 25 in the second, losing out to her sister Nellie's 8 for 37, and 6 for 12.

At that time there were strong public opinions against women playing sports. People wrote to the papers stating their disapproval, and expressed concern that the women may flash their legs in public. Even while reporting on the fixtures of the games in detail, and the skill of the players, one article questioned the appropriateness of women playing cricket: "The game was a novelty and therefore attractive. The cricket shown was far above mediocrity, but whether such exhibitions are healthful is open to doubt." Her wicket keeping, a contemporary report stated, was "sharp, clean and decisive, few balls being allowed to pass her". She also contributed to the administration of the sport, becoming the secretary of the Sydney Ladies’ Cricket Club. Her children continued her legacy, with her daughters both competing in local and interstate cricket with their aunt Nellie, and their cousins.