Insight: Annabel Sutherland opens up about the ups and downs of selection and learning from the biggest names in the game

Annabel Sutherland has narrowly missed selection in three World Cup finals. She speaks about the frustration and education on the fringe, with a permanent Australian spot now within her grasp.

When you make your WBBL debut at 15 and play for Australia at 18, you get used to linear progress.

So for Annabel Sutherland, the experience of floating in and out of the national team over the past few years has been a bit of a jolt.

Sutherland is a cricketer in a hurry. But even being a child prodigy, supremely-talented all-rounder and being born into Australian cricket’s first family isn’t enough to guarantee a spot in an all-conquering Aussie women’s side.

To underscore Sutherland’s existence as a fringe-dweller in recent years, she has been part of three Australian World Cup winning squads (Twenty20 in 2020 and 2023 and one-day international in 2022) but not played in any of the respective events’ deciders, most notably dropped for the final in 2022 despite taking 1-26 from six overs in the semi-final win over the West Indies.

That’s just life when you are competing for spots with Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath and Ash Gardner.

“There’s certainly challenges to it,” says Sutherland of her life on the edge.

Annabel Sutherland knows what it is like to be on the fringes of selection – but has kept working for her spot. Picture: Getty Images

“I think no one enjoys sitting on the sideline, and I’m a super competitive person. So there’s no doubt that I guess the challenges of being on the fringe of selection certainly helped me to improve and spend a fair bit of time talking to coaches about how I can get better.

“I guess spending that much time around the squad in my first couple of years, just wanting to soak up as much information as possible and absolutely love the game and love talking about cricket, love training, love hitting balls. So any chance I could to get better was something I tried to do. So nice to see a little bit of a payoff. And there’s a long way to go.

“Any athlete I think is impatient at different times. It’s biding my time a little bit. Obviously, we’ve got an incredible squad and the girls have had a lot of success over the last few years. So I think I’m just grateful to have been a part of that success. And watching the girls do that thing, I think. Yeah, it’s been a pretty cool journey so far.”

But Sutherland’s days wearing a fluorescent bib may just about be over. With Rachael Haynes having retired, Meg Lanning taking several extended breaks from the game and Perry, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt and Alyssa Healy all 30 or over, the baton is gradually being passed to the next generation of Aussie female stars.

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Sutherland, 21, burst out of the shadows during the Ashes tour earlier this year. She started with a Test ton from No. 8 (her unbeaten 137 at Trent Bridge was a women’s Test record that far down the order) before ending the tour with an ODI century against Ireland, opening alongside the even younger Phoebe Litchfield, who also reached triple figures.

In a series ultimately retained by the skin of their teeth, that knock in Nottingham proved crucial.

“It has been strange, going from eight to opening,” Sutherland said.

“But I think the biggest thing is just being able to put my hand up at any spot, whatever kind of role. Yeah, sort of enjoy the idea of being flexible with my batting. I think you have to be in that top order that we’ve got and any spot that pops up, yeah, happy to put my hand up and do a job where (and) when necessary.

Sutherland has learnt from some of the biggest names in the game. Picture: Getty Images

“I think it was just nice to get some opportunity. It’s probably the one downside of playing in such a good team is that opportunities are hard to come by. We’ve got the top order that we do so in some way it was nice just to get a chance out there. I feel like the last couple of years I’ve been ready to put my hand up. So yeah, it was cool to take those in a few of the games and spend some time out in the middle. I feel like I can contribute to the team.”

When looking for mentors in the Australian side, it should probably be no surprise that the Victorian - daughter of former CA chief James and sister of emerging star Will - has tried to take everything in from another once-prodigious seaming all-rounder.

“I think Ellyse Perry is one that that comes up a little bit. I think just given we do similar things, being all-rounders, and the way she goes about the game,” Sutherland said.

“She’s the complete professional and I think the way that yeah, she’s been so consistent over the last 10 to 15 years is pretty unbelievable.

“So yeah, there’s no secret to why she’s been so good, being up close to it and just seeing the way that she prepares and goes about things.

“She’s one that I’ve picked her brains a fair bit. She’s been good enough to chat to me and share a few bits and pieces here and there. And I guess that’s kind of helped me work out my own game.”

Originally published as Insight: Annabel Sutherland opens up about the ups and downs of selection and learning from the biggest names in the game