Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland has established herself as one of the world’s top all-rounders in international cricket, delivering match-winning displays with the bat and ball. Part of Delhi Capitals’ success story, Sutherland has the experience of a team that has made it to the play-offs for the past three consecutive years. Her capability of handling numerous roles and staying collected during stressful conditions has turned her into an indispensable player, affirming her reputation as a game-changer internationally.
Being a member of a legendary cricketing family, Annabel Sutherland is going to be at the very core of Australia’s future generation of stars. By 2024, she had already made history with a Test double century and signed a high-paying WPL deal with the Delhi Capitals.
A powerful all-rounder, Sutherland burst onto the global scene in early 2020, with high expectations after her showings of ability in local cricket for Victoria and the Melbourne Stars in the WBBL. She made her international debut just before the 2020 T20 World Cup and quickly stamped her authority, scoring an unbeaten 22 from 11 balls against England in Canberra to force a super over.
Even with Australia’s incredible depth in ability, stable opportunities at the top level occasionally were in short supply. She earned her ODI debut against New Zealand in late 2020 and made her Test debut the following year against India.
“It’s very nice to play for a team like Delhi Capitals that have had some really good success over the last couple of years,” Sutherland told Hindustan Times. “We’ve got so much experience throughout our squad. I love playing for Delhi and I’m learning a lot along the way.”
Sutherland has carved her name into the record books with a series of groundbreaking achievements in Test cricket. She was the first woman to score a century at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and became part of an exclusive club as only the third Australian female cricketer to score three Test hundreds in a mere six games.
Adding to her place in history, Sutherland also became the first female Test cricketer to hit 150+ in consecutive innings. Her dominant 163 at the MCG came on the back of a career-defining 210 at the WACA last year, evidence of her incredible consistency and dominance with the bat.
Winner of the Belinda-Clarke Award, Sutherland’s influence isn’t confined to the Tests—she has become a match-winner in white-ball formats as well. In the third ODI versus India in Perth, she scored a career best with the bat, hitting 110 runs. Her all-round excellence throughout the series, where she scored 122 runs and took six wickets in a mere three matches, earned her the Player of the Series, further solidifying her image as a dynamic presence in Australian cricket.
“It was nice to get an opportunity to bat at five for the one-days and T20s. And then capped off by a really cool test where we were able to finish 16-0 against England in the Ashes.”
“It’s a cool challenge of the sport. Quite unique that you get to switch formats pretty quickly,” she notes, referencing the rapid transitions during the Ashes series.
The 23-year-old was at her absolute best in the field against the Mumbai Indians in WPL 2025 as she took a stunner to dismiss New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr with a probable catch of the tournament award winner.
In the ongoing season of the Women’s Premier League, she has picked 8 wickets in 7 games. However, Sutherland looks to make an impact with the bat as well for the team.
“I feel like I’m doing a job with the ball, probably not as many runs as I’d like so far, but I’m hitting the ball really well,” she explains. “It’s around the corner where I can hopefully get a big score and win a game with the bat.”
As Annabel Sutherland continues to make her mark in international cricket, many see her as the natural successor to Australian legend Ellyse Perry. While Perry remains a dominant force, there is a growing sense that Sutherland represents the next generation of elite all-rounders. However, rather than dwelling on comparisons, Sutherland embraces the chance to learn from Perry, drawing inspiration from her experience and approach to the game.
“I don’t ever read too much into the comparison. That’s for other people to comment on,” she said. “I’ve looked up to Pez growing up playing cricket. She’s been an incredible role model in not only Australian cricket but sport worldwide for girls growing up.”
“The cool thing for me is that I’ve been able to play alongside her and spend time watching how she goes about her business. She’s one of the hardest workers I’ve played with or against, which is no doubt why she’s as good as she is.”
Sutherland’s own approach to preparation is methodical and forward-thinking. “I put a hell of a lot of work in during pre-season to get myself ready, knowing how much cricket is on the calendar. There’s not a lot of windows to work on your game once the season gets going.”
Competing in other franchise leagues from across the globe, including The Hundred in England and India’s WPL, has provided Annabel Sutherland exposure to different conditions and pressure situations. This exposure is valuable practice for major international competitions, especially with the World Cup coming up in India later this year.
“Those various experiences are actually very valuable to rely on. With the World Cup looming, you do tend to have to look ahead,” Sutherland acknowledged.
As Meg Lanning spearheads a fearless Delhi Capitals side who pose as the favourites to lift the cup, Sutherland believes that the team has a strong sense of belief, confident that they are more than capable of defeating their opponents. They trust that playing their best cricket will be enough to secure victory on the day.
(Quotes sourced from Hindustan Times)
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