Alyssa Healy leaves cricket world divided with 'brutal' act towards Aussie teammate

Alyssa Healy showed that team comes before individual on Friday when she declared Australia's innings and left Kim Garth one run short of what would have been her first Test half-century. The Aussies amassed a world record total of 9d-575 in the match against South Africa at the WACA, with Annabel Sutherland the hero after a historic double century.

Sutherland cracked 210 off 256 balls - the fourth-highest individual score in a women's Test match. She also became the youngest Australian woman to score a Test double century, and the second youngest overall behind the great Sir Donald Bradman.

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Australia's total of 575 broke the previous world record of 569 for highest team score in a women's Test, with Garth continuing the onslaught after Sutherland finally departed. Coming in at No.9, the Irish-born Garth made a quick-fire 49 off 45 balls and was eyeing the first Test fifty of her career.

But in brutal scenes, Healy called the Australians in and declared their innings with Garth just one run short of the milestone. Healy made the decision when Alana King fell for the ninth wicket of the innings, and rather than send out No.11 batter Darcie Brown, the captain called the innings to a close.

It came as a merciful end for South Africa, who had been toiling in the heat for a day and a half after they were dismissed for just 76 in the first innings. But it came as a cruel blow for Garth, who was denied the chance to bring up a half-century in Test cricket.

Fans were far from impressed with Healy's decision. With so much time left in the match, many felt the captain should have let Garth get one more run.

One person wrote on social media: "Aw, unfair on Kim Garth." Another person added, "She just cost Garth a 50", while others described it as "brutal" and "harsh". However some defended the captain, saying the team should always come before individual milestones.

Annabel Sutherland makes epic cricket history with double ton

South Africa finished the second day's play at 3-67 - still a massive 432 runs behind. They were eventually bowled out for 215 on Saturday as Australia won by an innings and 284 runs. Garth snared two wickets on Friday evening as South Africa crashed to 3-13 in their second innings, before Delmi Tucker (27 not out) and Tazmin Brits (18 not out) offered some fight.

Sutherland's record-breaking knock came just one day after she took 3-19 with the ball. The only other players to have scored more than Sutherland are Kiran Baluch of Pakistan (242), Mithali Raj of India (214) and Australian teammate Ellyse Perry (213 not out).

Sutherland's knock was the fastest double century in women's Tests in terms of balls faced (248). Australia's Karen Rolton held the previous record with her 306-ball double ton. The 22-year-old Victorian fell just four runs short of eclipsing Perry's Australian record for highest score in a women's Test. But she was happy to miss out due to everything Perry has achieved in the game.

"I'm very happy for her to keep that record, she deserves it," Sutherland said. "She's an incredible player, and an even better person. The amount of time she's spent with the young girls coming through is a testament to that."

with AAP

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