'She is the best woman player in the world': Will Sutherland on sister Annabel's influence
toi
newspoint|11-10-2026
Puducherry: For Will Sutherland , the road to mastering the nuances of Indian conditions has come with a familiar voice in his corner. His younger sister, Annabel Sutherland , one of the most accomplished allrounders in the women’s game, has been a guiding light as the Australia ‘A’ captain navigates the demands of international cricket.
With Annabel having played extensively in India, the siblings have plenty of cricketing wisdom to exchange. “We talk about bowling and train with the same bowling coach. She has played over here a lot more, so we talk about conditions and that sort of thing. We definitely share a lot, which is awesome,” Will told TOI ahead of the third match.
Their relationship, however, is not merely about exchanging technical notes. Growing up in a cricket-loving household, Will and Annabel, along with their younger brother Tom, turned their backyard into a competitive arena where sibling rivalry doubled as an informal training ground.
“When I was younger, I could definitely bowl to her and she would smack it everywhere. There was a time when I didn’t have to hold back at all. She would try to bowl as fast as she could to me and Tom. Those battles probably helped us get a lot better,” he recalled.
Annabel’s numbers underline why her advice carries weight. In seven Tests, she has scored 715 runs at an average of 89.37, including four centuries, besides claiming 19 wickets. Her 53 ODIs have yielded 1,087 runs and 67 wickets. She was also part of Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League in 2025.
While Will, who has played two ODIs for Australia, represents Melbourne Renegades, Annabel plays for Melbourne Stars in their respective Big Bash competitions. “I probably want the Renegades to beat the Stars, but I would wish Annabel well. I think she is the best woman player in the world.”
As Will looks to establish himself as a genuine allrounder, Annabel’s advice has often extended beyond the nets. “She looks after her body a little better than me. She tells me to take a longer-term view because I want to play cricket for a long time. You cannot play every game. I want to be fit and healthy for March and April when IPL and other tournaments come around,” he said.
The family’s cricketing conversations have deep roots. Their father, James Sutherland , formerly CEO of Cricket Australia , ensured that the game was never far from the dinner table. “Poor mum, all we talked about at dinner was cricket. We were lucky to travel around Australia and watch games with dad. Sometimes, as kids, we got to go into the change rooms and meet Australian players. That exposure motivated me to keep working,” he said.
With Annabel having played extensively in India, the siblings have plenty of cricketing wisdom to exchange. “We talk about bowling and train with the same bowling coach. She has played over here a lot more, so we talk about conditions and that sort of thing. We definitely share a lot, which is awesome,” Will told TOI ahead of the third match.
Their relationship, however, is not merely about exchanging technical notes. Growing up in a cricket-loving household, Will and Annabel, along with their younger brother Tom, turned their backyard into a competitive arena where sibling rivalry doubled as an informal training ground.
“When I was younger, I could definitely bowl to her and she would smack it everywhere. There was a time when I didn’t have to hold back at all. She would try to bowl as fast as she could to me and Tom. Those battles probably helped us get a lot better,” he recalled.
Annabel’s numbers underline why her advice carries weight. In seven Tests, she has scored 715 runs at an average of 89.37, including four centuries, besides claiming 19 wickets. Her 53 ODIs have yielded 1,087 runs and 67 wickets. She was also part of Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League in 2025.
While Will, who has played two ODIs for Australia, represents Melbourne Renegades, Annabel plays for Melbourne Stars in their respective Big Bash competitions. “I probably want the Renegades to beat the Stars, but I would wish Annabel well. I think she is the best woman player in the world.”
As Will looks to establish himself as a genuine allrounder, Annabel’s advice has often extended beyond the nets. “She looks after her body a little better than me. She tells me to take a longer-term view because I want to play cricket for a long time. You cannot play every game. I want to be fit and healthy for March and April when IPL and other tournaments come around,” he said.
The family’s cricketing conversations have deep roots. Their father, James Sutherland , formerly CEO of Cricket Australia , ensured that the game was never far from the dinner table. “Poor mum, all we talked about at dinner was cricket. We were lucky to travel around Australia and watch games with dad. Sometimes, as kids, we got to go into the change rooms and meet Australian players. That exposure motivated me to keep working,” he said.
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