Women's Ashes: Sarah Elliott scores century after breastfeeding son during breaks

Elliott with her son

Australian cricketer Sarah Elliott scored her debut century at the women’s Ashes this week. The fact that she did so after breastfeeding her nine-month-old child during the lunch and tea breaks has surprised the cricketing world.

Speaking to The Guardian, she said: “It’s great to make the most of what might be my only opportunity.”

But it has not astonished her team-mates back at Dandenong in Victoria.

Kelly Applebee, Victoria captain, had this to say on Elliott: “She always wants to bowl the best and bat the best. Anyone who has ever played against her would say she is great to play against and I’m sure England would say the same thing.

“She’s very gracious. I don’t think I have ever heard her sledge. She might sometimes disagree, but in all the years I’ve been playing alongside her she hasn’t said a bad word about anyone.

“She can sometimes be grumpy though.”

Elliott was seen practising in the gym just six weeks after giving birth to her toddler, Sam.

On Elliott’s commitment to the game, Applebee said: “I don’t have kids myself, but many people have said to me they struggled just to get dressed when their babies were nine months old, so to come out and play cricket for Australia is incredible.

“Since she had Sam, she has told me she still has a little more in the tank.”