Australia’s Annabel Sutherland notched up her maiden Test century during the first Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Friday, June 23. In the process, the all-rounder also became the youngest in Women’s Ashes to register a century at 21 years and 254 days.
Notably, the Aussies posted 328 runs at the close of Day 1, as star batter Ellyse Perry cracked 99 runs off 153 balls. However, on Day 2, Sutherland, who remained unbeaten with a score of 39 on the previous day, asserted her dominance with the bat against the English bowling unit.
Batting in a deep Australian line-up at no. 8, Sutherland remained solid in the middle despite her side losing six wickets previously. The all-rounder got her fifty off 100 balls which featured seven boundaries. However, she hit the accelerator, getting the next fifty runs in the span of just 48 balls, and with this, she recorded the fastest hundred by an Australian and the fourth-fastest ton in women’s Tests.
In addition to this, she also became the only third batter to register a Test ton, coming in at the no. 8 position. Having scored 137 off 184 balls, Sutherland helped the Aussies remain in the driver’s seat with a solid total of 473 runs.
The 21-year-old all-rounder has featured in just two Tests prior to the first Ashes clash and has collected 18 runs at an average of 9.00.
Highest scores from No.8 or below in Women’s Tests-
116* – Annabel Sutherland (AUS-W) vs ENG-W, Trent Bridge, 2023
105* – Chamani Seneviratna (SL-W) vs PAK-W, Colombo (Colts), 1998
104* – Karen Price (AUS-W) vs IND-W, Ahmedabad, 1984
92* – Debbie Wilson (AUS-W) vs NZ-W, Auckland, 1990
88* – Shelley Nitschke (AUS-W) vs ENG-W, Worcester, 2005
Youngest centurions for Australia in Women’s Tests-
19y 270d – Julie Stockton vs NZ-W, Sydney (University Oval), 1979
20y 138d – Belinda Clark vs IND-W, North Sydney, 1991
21y 254d – Annabel Sutherland vs ENG-W, Trent Bridge, 2023
23y 196d – Lisa Sthalekar vs ENG-W, Sydney (Bankstown), 2003
Youngest centurions in Women’s Ashes Test-
21y 254d – Annabel Sutherland, Trent Bridge, 2023
22y 230d – Heather Knight, Wormsley, 2013
23y 196d – Lisa Sthalekar, Sydney (Bankstown), 2003
23y 205d – Denise Annetts, Wetherby, 1987