LISA STHALEKAR: Annabel Sutherland fast catching Ellyse Perry as Australia’s best female cricketer

You get a sense the apprentice is overtaking her master.

Annabel Sutherland wrote her name into the record books as the first woman to score a Test century at the MCG during the final Ashes triumph at the weekend.

Her opportunity to play in the historic match – the first women’s Test at the MCG in 76 years – came at the expense of injured star superstar Ellyse Perry.

Perry has been arguably Australia’s greatest female cricketer, inspiring a huge generation of cricketers that want to be just like her.

Sutherland was a teenager when she joined Perry, at the height of her powers, playing for Victoria in 2017.

Perry is known as one of the hardest trainers in the game, while Sutherland is relentless in her preparation, so they seem to be cut from the same cloth.

They are both strike bowling all-rounders and, while Perry has played much more cricket, Sutherland boats a bowling average of 22.48 from her 40 ODIs against Perry’s 25.37 from her 155 matches in the same format.

Just like Perry, Sutherland has an appetite to bat for long periods and they are both part of a unique group of players that have scored a double century for their country.

So when the opportunity came this Test match Sutherland didn’t hesitate when asked to bat at No.3, instead of her usual spots at No.8 or No.6 - places where she has already scored Test centuries from.

Sutherland’s stellar year was recognised on Monday when she won her first Belinda Clark Award, pipping previous winners Ashleigh Gardner and Beth Mooney.

Aged just 23 she is quickly cementing her own legend. She is only the third woman to score three Test centuries.

That is an incredible feat given that she and the rest of her team have had to learn the skills and art of the longest format with limited opportunities.

There was something special in the fact that a Victorian was the first to make triple figures at the one of the most hallowed Australian cricketing venues.

Sutherland said the record highlighted the limited opportunities that women have had to play Test cricket inside the great stadium.

“The amount of time I’ve spent at the ’G as young kid, watching a lot of cricket, a lot of Boxing Day Tests and then watching the Cats play too… I love this venue and what it means, I guess as a Victorian, so definitely this will sit pretty high up there I’d say,” she said.

I have had the privilege of watching Annabel enter the WBBL for the Melbourne Stars and then represent Australia for the first time as an 18-year-old.

It was always clear she had immense talent and was marked early on as a future star. But she had to be patient, running drinks before she earned her spot.

“If you are a youngster coming through and you aren’t frustrated or wanting to get a crack up the order or bowl more, then you are doing something wrong,” she said in 2024.

“I’ve definitely felt at times, probably pestered (head coach) Shelley (Nitschke) a little too much about what opportunities I can get.”

The future looks bright for Australian Cricket with Sutherland in it.

This is only the start for young Belsy, as she is affectionately known by her teammates, and who knows what heights she will reach?