Australia’s 24-year-old all-rounder Annabel Sutherland spoke with composure and quiet confidence on the eve of their crucial ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 fixture against Bangladesh, led by Nigar Sultana Joty, scheduled for 16th October at Visakhapatnam from 3 PM IST.
The match carries extra significance, not merely because the Australian juggernaut looks to reclaim their top spot after England, under Nat Sciver‑Brunt, overtook them on net run rate following a washed-out game against Pakistan in Colombo, but because Australia, despite three commanding victories, know they are yet to produce their “perfect bowling performance,” as Sutherland put it.
With 7 points from four games, including convincing wins over New Zealand (by 89 runs), Pakistan (by 107 runs), and India (by three wickets), Australia sit second on the points table, narrowly behind England. Sutherland has been a revelation with the ball, claiming 10 wickets at an average of 8.10 and an economy of 2.96, making her the leading wicket-taker of the tournament so far. Her figures, 9-1-26-3 vs New Zealand, 8.3-1-15-2 vs Pakistan, and a breathtaking 9.5-0-40-5 vs India, reflect a bowler in rhythm, thriving on responsibility.
“It’s been coming out pretty well,” she remarked with trademark modesty when asked about her use of change-ups, a weapon that dismantled India’s middle order last week. “It’s probably been a part of my game for the last few years, with the amount of T20 cricket I’ve played, leaning on those. Particularly when conditions are in the batters’ favour.”
The fixture against Bangladesh presents a different challenge, a side Australia rarely face, yet one that has shown glimpses of bite despite their winless run. Sutherland acknowledged the unpredictability of Nigar Sultana Joty’s side, especially their spin-heavy bowling attack.
“We had a really good series against them a little bit over a year ago, which gave us some good insight. We can obviously look back at the games so far; they’ve done a little bit of damage throughout, so, yeah, we’ve had a really thorough look at their team.”
The Australians are mindful of Shorna Akter, Bangladesh’s effervescent middle-order batter who injected late-innings energy, registering the fastest half-century at that point in time (51 off 34 balls) against South Africa. “She took the game on definitely, which went against the grind of how the rest of the innings went,” Sutherland said. “We’ve certainly had a look at her and come out with some plans.”
Sutherland’s five-wicket haul against India reaffirmed Australia’s depth and versatility in their bowling group, a mix of controlled pace, craft, and spin. “I’ve got very good rhythm and it’s nice to contribute, especially in conditions that were in the batters’ favour,” she shared. “The beauty of our bowling line-up is that spin and pace cover all bases. We still haven’t quite had that perfect bowling performance, but happy with how we’re going.”
Teammates Kim Garth and Tahlia McGrath have complemented her with crucial breakthroughs in different phases, while Darcie Brown, yet to feature prominently this tournament, remains the “impact player with a bit more pace” according to Sutherland. “She’s got some really great changeups, too. She’s definitely ready to go, and it’ll be cool to see her getting a chance at some point.”
The Australians have enjoyed a few days off since their thriller against India, using the time to relax before recalibrating for the business end of the tournament. “A few went on a day trip, I stayed at the hotel and chilled out,” Sutherland smiled. “A bit of pool time, lots of time with teammates, just chilling out.”
But behind the smiles lies a group that thrives on improvement. “There are always things we’re trying to improve on,” she emphasised. “We set pretty high standards for ourselves, and across the board, there are always things to work on.”
As the match approaches, Sutherland insists there’s no room for complacency. “We don’t take anyone lightly. We’ve prepared very well, got a good training tonight, and everyone’s really ready to go,” she said, underlining Australia’s pragmatic approach to conditions that could again test bowlers under dew. “It’s just about adapting really quickly, depending on the wicket and how much the ball’s turning. You’ve got to have your own plan and stick to it.”
Her fondness for playing in Asia reflects her maturity as a modern cricketer. “It’s just a different experience. You get different conditions and have to adapt quickly, and I think we’ve done reasonably well. It’s another opportunity to do that again on the same ground we played on last game, but a different wicket.”
Australia’s ambition to top the standings again aligns with their broader goal, consistency heading into the knockout stages. The team’s campaign, spanning India and Sri Lanka, is part of the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, running from 30th September to 2nd November 2025. For Sutherland, the challenge isn’t just about wickets or averages but sustaining momentum through adaptation.
The clash at Visakhapatnam is not merely a routine group fixture; it’s a tune-up for champions aiming to fine‑tune their rhythm. For Bangladesh, validation lies in competitiveness; for Sutherland and Australia, mastery is measured by how well they respond under fresh conditions and as Sutherland runs in with the ball once again, Australia’s path back to the summit might just mirror her own quiet but relentless precision.
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