- Alyssa Healy and Mitchell Starc now share the highest Test score of 99
- Healy, 33, was just one run away from making sporting history
- Almost the first Australian woman with international hundreds in three formats
- Her husband Mitchell Starc plundered 99 in the 2013 series against India
They are world cricket’s undisputed power couple – and Alyssa Healy and Mitchell Starc now also share a Test batting record that may never be beaten.
Remarkably, both have a highest Test score of 99, after Healy was dismissed by Delmari Tucker late on the first day of the first Test against South Africa in Perth.
The wicket also shattered Healy’s aim of becoming the first Australian woman to post international hundreds in all three formats of the sport.
In 2013, Healy’s husband also walked back to the pavilion just before his maiden Test century when a nervous Starc edged a ball to MS Dhoni off Ishant Sharma’s bowling during an away match against India.
As Healy wondered what could have happened, a cricket fanatic on social media posted a remarkable statistic online.
They are world cricket’s power couple – and Alyssa Healy and Mitchell Starc now share a batting Test record that may never be beaten
Remarkably, both now have a highest Test score of 99 after Healy was dismissed by Delmari Tucker late on the first day of the first Test against South Africa in Perth.
“Only 3,892 people have played Test cricket since 1877. Only 12 of them have a career-high score of 99 in the format.
‘Two of those twelve (Healy and Starc) are a married couple’ Hypocaust revealed on X.
Cricket legend Shane Warne is also among the rare dozens, after the spin king was infamously caught with 99 runs to his name in a 2001 Test against New Zealand in Perth.
Replays later showed Daniel Vettori bowled a no-ball, meaning Warne should have been given a reprieve from the on-field umpire.
Meanwhile, Healy’s ruthless nature is on display in the Test against the Proteas at the WACA.
The skipper declared at 9/575 on day two, leaving Kim Garth – who has not posted a Test half-century in her career – unbeaten on 49.
All-rounder Annabel Sutherland was the star for the rampant hosts 210 off 256 balls.
It was the highest team total in the women’s Tests, eclipsing Australia’s 6-569 against England in 1998.
All-rounder Annabel Sutherland has shown her class at the crease, making 210 in the Test against the Proteas
In response to Australia’s mammoth total, South Africa ended day two at 3-67, still needing 432 runs to get the home side back into bat.
Other women’s players who have scored more runs in a Test innings than Sutherland include Pakistan’s Kiran Baluch (242), India’s Mithali Raj (214) and Ellyse Perry (213 not out).
Sutherland fell just four points short of eclipsing Perry and setting a new Australian record – not that she minded.
“I’m very happy that she can keep that record, Pez deserves it,” she said.
“She’s an incredible player and an even better person. The amount of time she spent with the young girls who came through is a testament to that.”
Sutherland’s exploits with the bat came just a day after she took 3-19 as the Proteas were bowled for 76 in their first innings.
She hit 27 fours and two sixes during her dazzling knock.
Australia just needs to draw the Test to win the multi-format series against South Africa.
