From backyard battles against her brothers to the pinnacle of Australian cricket, Annabel Sutherland’s journey has been fueled by relentless determination. The 23-year-old all-rounder was honored with the prestigious Belinda Clark Award, cementing her rise as one of the finest cricketers in the country.

This accolade, awarded to Australia’s best women’s cricketer over the past year, comes on the heels of her historic century at the MCG, making her the first woman to achieve the feat at the iconic venue. Sutherland’s outstanding performances, particularly in the red-ball format, helped her claim the award with 168 votes, finishing ahead of Ashleigh Gardner (143) and Beth Mooney (115).
Sutherland’s dominant performances across all formats set her apart. She kicked off the voting period with a phenomenal 210 against South Africa at the WACA, followed by a magnificent 163 against England in the Ashes Test, propelling Australia to a 16-0 sweep in the multi-format series.
Her remarkable form extended beyond just batting. Across 33 matches, she finished the period with 34 wickets at 20.82, the fourth highest for Australia. She also contributed 300 runs in ODIs, including a century.
The additional weightage given to Test match performances played a crucial role in Sutherland’s triumph. Votes from Tests counted twice as much as ODIs and three times more than T20Is, giving her the decisive edge in the final tally.
While basking in the glory of her achievements, Sutherland acknowledged that Australia’s T20 World Cup semi-final exit against South Africa last year still haunted her. The loss, which ended their streak of three consecutive world titles, was a sobering moment that made her reflect on the challenges of staying at the top.
“It didn’t sit overly well. It made me think they’re actually not that easy to win, surprisingly, given our record over the last few years,” Sutherland admitted. “It’s tough when teams are coming at you. You’re at the top of the list for other countries and everyone wants to knock you off. But the way we responded after that World Cup probably just shows the character of that group. Everyone went to work.”
That work paid off spectacularly; Australia bounced back, dismantling England in the Ashes and proving why they remain the benchmark in women’s cricket.
Sutherland’s cricketing journey wasn’t just shaped by professional setups but also by fierce battles at home. Growing up, she was constantly challenged by her brothers, Will and Tom, with no easy rides given. Her father, James Sutherland, the former Cricket Australia CEO, also played a significant role in her exposure to the game.
But it was those backyard contests that instilled resilience in her. Reflecting on those childhood duels, she acknowledged how they toughened her up for the challenges of elite cricket.
“I wouldn’t be here without you guys. You haven’t made it easy growing up in the backyard and you never backed off, which I’m certainly grateful for now,” she said. “I wasn’t at the time.”
That relentless competitiveness has now placed her at the pinnacle of the sport, with an award to show for it.

Despite her growing stature in world cricket, Sutherland still lives at home—a situation she humorously suggests might not last much longer.
“They’re probably close to trying to kick me out. But no, I’m sure they’re very proud,” she quipped.
Early in her international career, Sutherland has firmly established herself as one of the best in Australian cricket, and this might just be the beginning of an era dominated by her all-round brilliance.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)

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