Australia’s Annabel Sutherland first woman added to MCG century board

Australia’s Annabel Sutherland history-making century on Friday has been permanently acknowledged by the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Sutherland — the daughter of former Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland — is the first woman to make a Test ton at the MCG, surpassing England keeper Betty Snowball’s 83* in 1935 for highest score at the venue.

And her name was promptly added to the ground’s Australia Test Century honour board, with the MCG social media account revealing the updated detail on Saturday.

“A very, very special addition to the MCG honour boards,” the MCG social media account said.

“A. J. Sutherland, the first woman to have her named etched in history for a Test Century at the ‘G.”

The acknowledgement was widely praised, with many fans loving the fact that the names on the board were “all Australian Test cricketers who scored a hundred at the G” ... with no asterisks required.

“A sign of the times. Brilliant MCG,” said famous photographer Wayne Ludbey.

While another said: “I love this. No asterisk. No reference to it being different. It’s an Australian Test century at the MCG. End of story.”

However, a small minority thought the venue should have two boards, one for men and one for women, oddly suggesting the venue was being ‘woke’ by not distinguishing between the sexes.

Former Labor leader and One Nation politician Mark Latham was one of the voices of dissent.

“Might think it’s her dad,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “Shouldn’t the Woke add pronouns?”

But the MCG account quickly fired back: “Her Dad’s name is James which does not start with the letter A. Hope this helps.”

Fans also piled onto Latham and the negative take.

“Come on Mark … surely you’ve got more respect than that,” one fan said.

And another: “Hahaha you got cooked by a cricket ground, I’d be embarrassed if I was you.”

And another: “Failed politician has to engage in culture wars to stay relevant. Why can’t you just congratulate Annabelle on this achievement?”

The milestone fulfilled a lifelong dream for Sutherland, who grew up at the MCG watching the cricket and the footy as a diehard Geelong fan.

She also featured in kids cricket matches during the lunch breaks of the Boxing Day Tests with her brother Will (a current Melbourne Renegades star).

“Pretty special, it’s a pretty special place being a Victorian,” she said during the dinner break on Friday.

“Growing up there was no better place to be than spend time at the ‘G watching the cricket, watching the footy ... few grand finals as a Cats fan but to be out there in the middle, it’s such a cool occasion for the whole group.”

Sutherland, who hit her previous two Test centuries lower down the order, was promoted to No.3 after star veteran Ellyse Perry hurt her hip while fielding on Thursday.

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And father James, a former first class cricketer, was certainly proud as he watched his daughter make her century.

“It is a pleasure to be out here watching a women’s Test match and even better to be watching Annabel doing what she loves doing, which is batting,” he said.

“(I am) certainly nervous and, having played the game, you probably understand that you fail at cricket a lot more than you succeed, especially as a batter.

“You also know your child and you also know your child’s game and you sometimes can see what’s going on in their head. You can’t do anything about it, but you hope they can keep it together.”