Beth Mooney scripts history with century in Women's Ashes Test
What's the story
In a historic feat, Beth Mooney became the first Australian woman to score a century in all three international formats. The incredible achievement came during the day-night Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Mooney resumed her innings on Day 3 with 98 runs and faced England spinner Sophie Ecclestone in the first over of the day. She was eventually dismissed for 106.
Maiden ton
Mooney's maiden Test century: A thrilling journey
Mooney's road to her maiden Test century was a nail-biting one. She survived five dot balls from Ecclestone, including a nerve-wracking attempt at a single before being sent back by partner Tahlia McGrath. The 31-year-old then confidently drove through the off-side and ran the two runs required to bring up her first Test hundred off 155 deliveries. The milestone was celebrated with a fist pump and helmet salute to nearly 6,000 spectators at the MCG.
Record breaker
Mooney surpasses Ashes record and joins elite group
Mooney's scoring spree didn't end at her century. She soon went past 405 runs for this multi-format series, breaking Natalie Sciver-Brunt's Ashes record of 404 from the 2023 edition in the UK. This achievement puts her in an elite club of players who scored a century in each format at international level. Only three women have done this before: England's Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont, and South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt.
Honor board
Mooney's name etched on MCG Test century honor board
Mooney's name now sits on the MCG Test century honor board alongside her teammate Annabel Sutherland, who scored 163 on Friday. Meanwhile, she is overall the fourth Australian to score tons across all formats after Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, and David Warner. Despite the pressure of an impending milestone, Mooney stuck to her pre-game routines on Saturday afternoon by walking to the MCG from Australia's city-based hotel and not hitting any balls during warm-up.
Career highlights
Mooney's international centuries and run tally
Mooney's maiden Test ton is her sixth for Australia, including three ODI and two T20I tons. She hit her first ODI hundred against New Zealand in Auckland in 2017, and maiden T20I ton later that year at Manuka Oval during the Ashes. Her second T20I ton came in 2019 against Sri Lanka, while her second and third one-day tons were hit against India in Mackay in 2023, and Pakistan at North Sydney Oval in 2023.
Run tally
Mooney surpasses Rolton in international runs tally
With the first run she scored in her MCG hundred, Mooney also went into outright fourth for international runs by Australian women. She surpassed Karen Rolton (6,221) to sit behind only her contemporaries Meg Lanning (8,352), Ellyse Perry (7,224), and Alyssa Healy (6,741). This achievement further cements her status as one of Australia's most prolific run-scorers in women's cricket.
Information
Here are her Test numbers
Mooney smoked seven fours en route to her 173-ball 106. With her latest century, Mooney has raced to 559 runs across eight Women's Tests at an average of 43. This was overall her fifth 50-plus score in the format. 393 of her runs have come against England at 49.12.