Elizabeth Alexandra Snowball (9 July 1908 – 13 December 1988), known as Betty Snowball, was an English cricketer who played Test cricket for England between 1934 and 1949. An opening batter and wicket-keeper, she was, according to her Wisden obituary, generally accepted as the outstanding wicket-keeper of her generation.^[1] In February 1935 she scored 189 against New Zealand at Christchurch, then a world record for the highest individual innings in women's Test cricket. She also represented Scotland at international squash and lacrosse.^[2]

Snowball was born in Burnley, Lancashire. Her father, Thomas Snowball, was a doctor from Scotland.^[2] She was educated at St Leonards School in St Andrews and then at Bedford Physical Training College,^[3] and became a teacher of physical education at St Swithun's School, Winchester.^[2] Her father was a keen club cricketer who encouraged his daughter to play.^{[citation needed]} After leaving school she was coached for a period by Learie Constantine, from whom, in her own words, she gained "aggressive inspiration".^[1]

Snowball appeared in 10 Test matches between 1934 and 1949, playing as a right-handed batter and wicket-keeper. She played in each of the first seven Tests contested by women, from the inaugural women's Test against Australia at Brisbane in December 1934 to the seventh against Australia at The Oval in July 1937, where she narrowly missed a second century, being dismissed for 99. She toured Australia twice, in 1934–35 and 1948–49.^[4]

Against New Zealand at Christchurch in February 1935 — the fourth women's Test to be played, and New Zealand's first — she scored 189 in 222 minutes. The innings set a world record for the highest individual score in women's Test cricket, which stood for over 50 years until Sandhya Agarwal made 190 in 1986.^[5] It remained the highest Test score by an Englishwoman until June 2023, when it was surpassed by Tammy Beaumont during the Ashes.^[6]

Opening the batting, Snowball formed a noted partnership with the all-rounder Myrtle Maclagan; Wisden described her as "an effective foil" to Maclagan, both as a fellow-opener and in keeping to her spin bowling.^[1] The pairing was likened in the contemporary press to the England men's opening pair of Jack Hobbs and Herbert Sutcliffe.^[7]

Behind the stumps her wicket-keeping was likened to that of Australia's Bert Oldfield; Wisden recalled her as "always immaculate in turnout, and neat and tidy in technique, although enthusiasm added a flourish to efficiency".^[1] In all she scored 613 runs at a batting average of 40.86, with one century and four fifties, and took 13 catches and 8 stumpings.^[4] She later stood as an umpire in one women's Test, in 1951.^[4]

She played domestic cricket for various sides, including Winchester WCC,^[3] West of England, Hampshire and Lancashire.^[5]

As well as cricket, Snowball played squash and lacrosse at international level for Scotland, for which she qualified through her Scottish father.^[2]

After her playing career, Snowball retired to Colwall in Herefordshire, a village often described as the cradle of women's cricket and the venue of an annual women's cricket week.^[1] There she taught cricket and mathematics at The Elms School, where Michael Singleton was headmaster.^[8] She died in Colwall on 13 December 1988, aged 80.^[2]