Annabel Sutherland smashes Aussie records in 'epic' Women's Ashes feat

Annabel Sutherland is the toast of the cricket world after re-writing the record books in a stunning display for Australia's women on day two of the first Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge. Sutherland became the youngest woman in history to hit an Ashes Test ton on a day that also contained a stirring England fightback to leave the match delicately poised.

England went to stumps at 2-218, with Tammy Beaumont firing her way to an unbeaten 100 late in the day, as the hosts set about eating into Australia's whopping first innings total of 473. On a record-breaking day for Sutherland, the all-rounder hit 137 not out to also notch the highest ever Test score by a No.8 batter.

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Sutherland's maiden Test century came in just 148 balls, making it the quickest in Australian women's history - besting Jill Kennare's record of 156 balls set in 1984. Sutherland also took the first wicket of England's Emma Lamb for 10 on an unforgettable day for the Aussie star.

"It's pretty special today, I am not sure it has quite sunk in yet," the 21-year-old said after becoming the youngest Australian since Belinda Clark in 1991 to score a Test century and the youngest of all-time from either nation in an Ashes Test. "It's something you dream of growing up. Just to pull on the Baggy Green is, but to do that job for the team is pretty cool."

Sutherland hit 16 boundaries in her knock and one big six, when she took on England's star spinner Sophie Ecclestone late in the innings and hit her over the legside. The way she played Ecclestone was a feature of her innings, given the English spinner claimed the first five-wicket haul of her career with 5-128.

Aussies rue DRS blunder after Tammy Beaumont ton

England took some gloss off Sutherland's heroics with a stirring fightback that saw Beaumont also notch an unbeaten ton, although the Aussies will be left ruing a chance to remove her on 61. The Aussies failed to challenge a catch that would have sent Beaumont packing when she charged Alana King, hit the ball onto her toe and was caught at short leg by Phoebe Litchfield.

Australia appealed but were knocked back by umpire Anna Harris, and incredibly, opted not to send the incident to DRS - a decision which could prove to be particularly costly. "I knew I hit it, I knew it hit my foot, I didn't know if it hit the floor as well," Beaumont said.

"Not my decision to make. Not mine to overturn. It's hard to tell when it's hit your foot if it has hit the ground at the same time."

Sutherland said the Aussies had considered reviewing but ultimately decided against it. "It was spoken about, we went through our processes and got that one wrong, which happens," she said. "You miss a few every now and then."

It is the second time in the first two days of the Test there has been confusion over the DRS, with England taking approximately 20 seconds to review a decision on Thursday that prompted Jess Jonassen's dismissal. Under ICC rules, teams have 15 seconds to launch a review once a decision is given not out.

Litchfield also failed to review an lbw call when she was given out in the first session of the match for 23, before replays showed it was missing off stump and she would have been not out. There are worrying signs heading into day three for Australia's bowlers, who were hit for 562 by England A in a warm-up match on a flat Leicester wicket last week.

"I don't think it's a concern," Sutherland said. "That warm-up game was the perfect preparation for us. The wicket was pretty flat in Leicester and the bowlers toiled away really well. We created seven chances today and I thought Kim Garth in particular was incredible. She was threatening all day and the spinners at the end then too."

with AAP

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