Where there’s a Will, there’s a way
Anthony McGrath has signed all-rounder Will Sutherland for the second time having previously coveted the Australian’s services whilst in post at Essex.
Unfortunately, Sutherland’s spell at Chelmsford during the first half of 2023 was cancelled because of a stress fracture in his back.
Since then, the man nicknamed Chief – owing much to his father James being a former Cricket Australia CEO – has made his international debut in green and gold.
Sutherland, 25, played two One-Day Internationals against the West Indies on home soil in February 2024.
He is a tall seamer and a hard-hitting lower middle order batter with plenty of power.
He is the captain of the Victorian state team and has also just led the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.
He is closing in on 50 career first-class appearances and 150 wickets, claiming a best of 6-67. He has also got one first-class hundred to his name.
As well as playing a couple of mid-season Rothesay County Championship matches for Yorkshire, he will also play the entirety of the Vitality Blast group stage. In his 63 career appearances, all for the Renegades, he has bests of 3-14 and 70 to his name.
Injury also ruled him out of a planned spell with Somerset last season.
Will’s younger sister Annabel is a regular in Australia’s women’s team as an all-rounder herself, and she has previous experience of playing at Headingley having represented the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred last year.
Will was a talented junior Australian Rules footballer and, as a teenager, had to choose between the two sports.
Yorkshire is the destination for Sutherland’s first taste of overseas cricket, and it was exciting to hear Gavin Hamilton describe our new signing as an “immense talent”.
UPDATED: Feb 2025.
