Annabel Sutherland has become the first woman to score a Test century at the MCG in the one off Women's Ashes Test at the ground.
The 23-year-old came into bat in the third session of day one yesterday (January 30), and carried her bat through the second two sessions of day two. She reached her century from her 193rd ball at the crease, cutting a ball from Sophie Ecclestone to the deep point boundary for four.
The innings is her third Test century and second against England, continuing her incredible record in Test cricket. She scored 210 against South Africa at the WACA last year, narrowly missing out on the highest-ever score in women's Tests which still belongs to Ellyse Perry (213*). Her first Test century came in the last Women's Ashes series, when she hit 137* at Trent Bridge.
Sutherland boasts incredible numbers in Test cricket, a format rarely played more than once a year and never domestically by women's players in Australia, averaging almost 90 in the six matches she's played.
Healy and Starc complete unprecedented Test couple double with identical appearance tallies ⬇️ https://t.co/86ZhrpVQrv
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) January 31, 2025
The ongoing game also marks the first women's Test at the MCG since 1949 and the first women's pink ball Test ever played at the iconic venue. The previous highest score on the ground in a women's Test was 83*, scored by England's Betty Snowball in 1935. The MCG is also Sutherland's home ground, her domestic team being Victoria.
Australia are in a dominant position in the Test match, having gone into it looking to whitewash England 16-0 in the series. The hosts bowled England out for 170 on day one and have extended their lead towards 100 nearing the end of the evening session on day two. England have dropped several chances throughout the second day's play, including Sutherland on 29 by Danni Wyatt-Hodge off the bowling of Ecclestone, and another tough chance off Sutherland on 31 by Amy Jones behind the stumps.
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