Hazel Sanders was born in Mitcham in 1926, the daughter of C.F (Fred) Sanders, a former 1st XI captain, who was for many years the editor of the Mitcham Cricket Club Yearbook. She learned her cricket with her brother and father, attending Mitcham County Girls' School.

One of Hazel's first games for Surrey was played on the Green, against Middlesex in 1946.

She was included in the England touring party for Australia in 1948-49, the youngest member of the team. She played in all 3 Tests, her best score being 20 in the 1st innings of the final Test. But her overall performances were better than this - she scored over 300 runs in the tour, with an average of 21.12, and was 3rd in the England bowling averages, with 22 wickets at an average of 9.72. In her report of the tour, Nancy Joy noted that Hazel could turn the ball more than anyone.

In the single Test against New Zealand at Auckland, won by England, Hazel top scored with 54 in the 1st innings, and was unbeaten on 26 in the 2nd.

In total, Hazel played 12 Tests for England, and toured Australia and New Zealand in 1957-58 as well as 1948-49. She died in 1996 and her Wisden obituary noted that aside from a fighting spirit with the bat, she also proved an outstanding fielder, particularly at silly mid-on, where she took 15 catches in Tests.