KEY POINTS
- Kim Garth became the first daughter to follow her mother into World Cup cricket, playing for Australia.
- Multiple parent-child duos, like the Marshes and Cairns, have carried national hopes across World Cup generations.
- Cricketing legacies, whether through play or presence, continue to shape the global game’s most iconic tournament.
ISLAMABAD: Cricket has always thrived on legacy, but history was rewritten at the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup when Australia’s Kim Garth took the field against New Zealand, becoming part of the first mother-daughter duo to appear in a World Cup alongside her mother, Anne-Marie McDonald (later Garth).
From father-son combinations to a mother-daughter milestone, cricket has seen generations carry forward not just surnames, but stories, rivalries, heartbreaks, and triumphs, all under the banner of World Cup cricket. Here’s a look at some notable family pairs who have shared this unique legacy.
From Dublin in the ’80s to modern-day Melbourne ✈️
At the forthcoming ODI World Cup, Kim Garth and her mum Anne-Marie will make history: https://t.co/TBXXTD7ErA pic.twitter.com/02NF1hj5ZG
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 27, 2025
The Marsh Dynasty: Geoff, Shaun & Mitchell (Australia)
Few families have left a World Cup mark quite like the Marshes. Geoff Marsh was a pillar of Australia’s 1987 title run, scoring 428 runs and lifting the trophy.
His son Shaun featured briefly in 2019, but it was Mitchell who mirrored his father’s legacy. A key player in both the 2015 and 2023 World Cup-winning campaigns, Mitchell shone as an opener, playing a crucial role in Australia’s stunning win over India in the 2023 final.
Lance & Chris Cairns: New Zealand’s Generational Power
Lance Cairns represented the Kiwis in the first three World Cups (1975, 1979, 1983), contributing more with the ball than the bat. His son, Chris, was a true modern all-rounder, playing in four World Cups from 1992 to 2003.
Chris eclipsed his father’s numbers, amassing over 500 runs and taking key wickets, especially during the 1999 campaign.
Anne-Marie & Kim Garth: A Mother-Daughter First
In 1988, Anne-Marie McDonald played for Ireland in a modest campaign. Decades later, her daughter Kim Garth, born in Dublin, raised in Irish colours, and now donning the green and gold of Australia, stepped up for a powerhouse team.
In her debut World Cup game, Kim scored 38 from No.9 and bowled eight tidy overs, as Australia cruised past New Zealand. Together, the Garths have become the first mother-daughter pair to appear at the World Cup, a generational first for women’s cricket.
Tim & Bas de Leede: Dutch Pride Across Eras
Tim de Leede will always be remembered for dismissing Tendulkar and Dravid in 2003. He represented the Netherlands in three World Cups and inspired his son, Bas, who made waves in 2023.
Though Bas endured the ignominy of conceding a record 115 runs in a single ODI, he also took 16 wickets, proof that he’s carrying the Dutch legacy forward, despite the challenges.
Rod & Tom Latham: New Zealand’s Calm Anchors
Rod Latham had a quiet World Cup run in 1992, while son Tom has become a fixture of New Zealand’s white-ball sides. With appearances in both 2019 and 2023, Tom has brought stability behind the stumps and in the middle order, embodying consistency across two generations.
Kevin & Sam Curran: Zimbabwean Roots, English Accolades
Kevin Curran played for Zimbabwe in the 1983 and 1987 editions. Decades later, his son Sam lit up the T20 World Cup in 2022, claiming Player of the Tournament.
Though his ODI World Cup appearance in 2023 was brief, Sam remains a key cog in England’s white-ball setup, a far more successful cricketing journey than his father’s, albeit on different stages.
Roger & Stuart Binny: A Tale of Two Formats
Roger Binny was India’s unsung hero in 1983, claiming the most wickets en route to a historic triumph. His son Stuart played in the 2014 T20 World Cup and made the 2015 ODI squad but didn’t get to play.
While Stuart didn’t emulate his father’s World Cup glory, the Binny name remains written in India’s cricketing folklore.
Joan & Carole Hodges: Not Both Players, But Both Present
This one’s different. Joan Hodges wasn’t a player; she was a scorer. Her daughter Carole, however, was England’s all-round star in the 1993 Women’s World Cup, winning Player of the Tournament.
Joan scored 14 matches across the 1988 and 1993 tournaments, watching her daughter’s journey from heartbreak to glory. A scorer and a star, cricket truly ran in the Hodges’ veins.
When Bloodlines Meet the Boundary Line
Cricket is more than numbers; it’s about moments passed down, stories told in locker rooms, and dreams handed from one generation to the next. From Geoff Marsh to Mitchell, Anne-Marie to Kim Garth, the World Cup stage continues to welcome families united by talent and time.
With the Women’s WC 2025 continuing, Kim Garth’s history-making debut reminds us: legacies don’t just live in records, they live in the next step a child takes, following the path a parent once carved.
