Melbourne Stars honors their best player of the season as a tribute to their dedication and contribution to the team’s performance. The 22-year-old all-rounder, Annabel Sutherland, has been awarded the Player of the Season for Melbourne Stars.
Annabel Sutherland, a prominent Australian all-rounder, has represented Melbourne Stars since the 2017-18 season of the Women’s Big Bash League. In the 9th edition of the WBBL, she participated in 14 matches, accumulating 288 runs. Her highest individual score of 49 runs off 27 balls came against the Perth Scorchers, wherein she smashed seven boundaries and one maximum, boasting a strike rate of 181.48. Throughout the tournament, she maintained an average of 22.15 with a strike rate of 118.03, hitting 29 boundaries and five maximums.
However, Sutherland’s impact extended beyond batting, as she proved to be equally formidable with the ball in hand. She showcased remarkable bowling performances, claiming a total of 23 wickets in 14 innings, ranking among the top 3 wicket-takers alongside Amanda Wellington and Nicola Maggie Hancock. Her best bowling figures of 4/22 were achieved against the Melbourne Renegades. With an overall bowling average of 15.08 and an economy rate of 7.13, she also secured two 4-fers against Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Renegades during the tournament.
Moreover, Sutherland’s agility and skill in the field added another dimension to her all-round capabilities. Throughout the tournament, she showcased her prowess by claiming a total of 11 catches, a testament to her sharp reflexes and fielding ability. Notably, she shares the joint record with Georgia Prestwidge for the highest number of catches in the season, further solidifying her status as a complete player.
Acknowledging her outstanding all-round performances, she was awarded the Player of the Match accolade in three matches during the tournament. Notably, in the match against Sydney Sixers on October 19th, she scored 34 runs, claimed 4 wickets conceding 27 runs, and secured 2 catches. Similarly, against the Perth Scorchers on October 29th, she scored 49 runs, took 2 wickets, and grabbed 2 catches. On November 12th, facing the Melbourne Renegades, she clinched 4 wickets conceding 22 runs, and contributed 24 runs with the bat.
Whether it was her impactful batting contributions, crucial wicket-taking spells, or exceptional fielding efforts, Sutherland consistently rose to the occasion, leaving an indelible mark on the WBBL season 9.