Sutherland transforms into superstar after promotion
A freak hip injury to Ellyse Perry has guaranteed a changing of the guard in Australian cricket with Annabel Sutherland grabbing her opportunity in stunning fashion.
Despite scoring centuries in two of her last three Tests, Sutherland was listed to bat at No.6 for the historic day-night at the MCG.
But 34-year-old Perry, one of the all-time greats of women's cricket, hurt herself while fielding on day one and couldn't be considered to bat at No.3.
Annabel Sutherland loves Test cricket 😍The hometown star brings up another century in whites with a boundary @hcltech #PlayoftheDay #Ashes pic.twitter.com/AmiXHkDIiQ
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 31, 2025
Having been promoted out of necessity, Sutherland's spot in the longer-format will surely become permanent after joining Betty Wilson and Jill Kennare as the only Australian women to have scored three Test centuries.
"I said 'yes' pretty quickly, before 'Shell' (Australia coach Shelley Nitschke) could even ask the question," the 23-year-old said about moving up the order to hit her masterful 163.
"I thought England bowled pretty well in that first session (on Friday) so it was nice to get through that.
"Wherever you can get an opportunity to bat, I'll take it."
It was a dramatic turnaround for Sutherland, whose top score during the three ODIs and Twenty20s during the series was 18.
We've had 11,918 fans at the MCG today, which mean's we've broken the world record attendance at a women's Test match with two days still to come! Thank you Melbourne for coming out to support our incredible team 🙌 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/kaMlDmo3qj
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 31, 2025
But Sutherland's form returned in her favourite format of the game.
"The time you've got to build an innings, I love batting," she said.
"You've got time to work through those waves of ebbs and flows of the game and just recognising those moments."
The daughter of former Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland, she spent summers at the MCG watching cricket and winters at the stadium supporting her beloved Geelong Cats in the AFL.
Sutherland said the century in the first women's Test at the MCG since 1949 would rank "pretty high" in her career.
"The occasion, the venue, the amount of time I've spent at the 'G as a young kid ... I just love the venue and what it means as a Victorian," she said.
"At different phases, concentration wavers a bit, but what brings me back always is what's best for the team.
"That's where my head goes, rather than any of the individual stuff."
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