Ruth Symons

{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Ruth Symons

| female = true

| image = Ruth Symons in 1935.png

| caption = Ruth Symons in 1935

| imagesize = 170px

| country = New Zealand

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1935

| fullname = Ruth Evelyn Symons

| birth_date = {{birth date|1913|10|3|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand

| death_date = {{death date and age|2004|9|11|1913|10|3|df=yes}}

| death_place = Christchurch, New Zealand

| nickname =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium

| role = All-rounder

| onetest = true

| testdebutdate = 16 February

| testdebutyear = 1935

| testdebutagainst = England

| testcap = 10

| club1 = Canterbury

| year1 = {{nowrap|1938/39–1939/40}}

| columns = 2

| column1 = WTest

| matches1 = 1

| runs1 = 5

| bat avg1 = 5.00

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 5

| deliveries1 = 120

| wickets1 = 2

| bowl avg1 = 35.50

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 2/71

| catches/stumpings1 = 1/–

| column2 = WFC

| matches2 = 3

| runs2 = 64

| bat avg2 = 12.80

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 34

| deliveries2 = 210

| wickets2 = 6

| bowl avg2 = 26.66

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/18

| catches/stumpings2 = 8/–

| date = 28 November 2021

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/17/17327/17327.html CricketArchive

}}

Ruth Evelyn Martin ({{nee|Symons}}; 3 October 1913 – 11 September 2004) was a New Zealand cricketer who played as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler. She played one Test match for New Zealand, their first, in 1935. She played domestic cricket for Canterbury.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/17/17327/17327.html |title=Player Profile: Ruth Symons |work=CricketArchive |access-date=28 November 2021}}

Symons captained Canterbury, and she was selected to captain New Zealand in their first women's Test match, against England in Christchurch in February 1935, which England won.{{cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/38327/england-and-new-zealand-test-match-1935 |title=England and New Zealand test match, 1935 |work=Encyclopedia of New Zealand |accessdate=30 April 2020}}{{cite web |title=Ruth Symons |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/ruth-symons-54451 |website=Cricinfo |access-date=24 July 2021}}{{cite journal |title=Cricket |journal=Press |date=8 February 1935 |page=21 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19350208.2.180}} In Canterbury's victory over Otago in March 1937 she took 6 for 6 and 3 for 23.{{cite web |title=Canterbury Women v Otago Women 1936-37 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/688/688227.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=24 July 2021}}

She married Lester Martin at St Mark's Church, near her home in Opawa, Christchurch, in April 1935.{{cite journal |title=Wedding |journal=Star |date=29 April 1935 |page=8 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19350429.2.100}} She died in Christchurch in 2004.