Australia star Annabel Sutherland is riding her luck at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) as she inches closer to posting her record-equalling third Test century during the Women's Ashes Test against England. After being dropped twice during the first session on day two, Sutherland went on to make it to the tea break unbeaten on 100 runs, as Australia moved to 2-154.
The match setup has seen Australia trailing by just 16 runs after spin bowler Alana King’s masterclass helped bowl hapless England out for 170 runs on Thursday, January 30, as captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and elected to field first. Healy, who remains unbothered by a foot injury from earlier series, was not out at 23 when play resumed after the break. The scoring prowess of Sutherland, now 21 years old, has garnered her legendary status, as her career potential seems to soar with each innings.
Sutherland's century ties her with Australian cricket legends Betty Wilson and Jill Kennare, making her only the third Australian woman to achieve this milestone. So far, five women have scored four Test centuries, with England's Janette Brittin holding the record for five. Promoted to No. 3 due to veteran Ellyse Perry’s hip injury during the previous innings, Sutherland faced the challenge with unwavering spirit. Although Perry was assessed overnight, she was confirmed available to bat should Australia need her.
On the second day, Australia carried the innings forward from 1-56, aiming to sign off with yet another dominant performance. The visitors, England, are staring at the possibility of being whitewashed for the first time since the multi-format series evolved to its current structure back in 2013. Following three defeats across ODI and T20 formats, England's Test performance has drawn heavy criticisms for being far less competitive.
Quick bowler Lauren Bell has held up England’s pride by claiming two wickets at 30 runs. Yet, star spinner Sophie Ecclestone seemed unfortunate not to have dismissed Sutherland twice due to dropped catches from the fielding side. "Sutherland gets to her fifty in style," noted cricket.com.au, capturing the confidence Sutherland has displayed on the pitch.
Live updates from the MCG reveal the overall atmosphere is becoming "mopey" for England as even their banter dwindles with their performance. A commentator quipped, "Can England muster any sort of response here?" echoing the sentiment of many as Australian batter Beth Mooney successfully rallied runs to support Sutherland.
With the MCG floodlights beginning to take effect, the match grew increasingly visceral, reflecting the drama of the game. After facing Ecclestone’s deliveries, Sutherland reached her century, becoming one of the standout figures of the match. One of the commentators finally stated, "What a cricketer," applauding Sutherland's composure and expertise at the crease.
Situationally, England is racing against time, trying to regain some footing after facing such intense pressure. During the transitions of the innings, they were seen frequently dropping chances; one was described as "hardly could have been easier" for the fielders. Meanwhile, Sutherland expertly capitalized on bountiful run opportunities as England's tactics crumbled under pressure.
The enthusiasm for Sutherland ’s achievement is palpable across the cricket community as images of her celebrating her century fill social media platforms. Numerous fans remarked about the exceptional skill developing within the Australian team, which remains undeterred by earlier setbacks during global tournaments. Mentioning back-to-back T20 World Cup semi-final losses, one fan mused, "Australia's era of dominance is far from over."
Leading up to the next phases of the match, Australia seems firmly set to seek not just victory but potentially rewrite sections of cricket history by capturing their first Test win over England, solidifying their place as dominant forces within women's cricket.