BRISBANE — To understand the relentless, record-breaking machine that is the Australian women's cricket team, one need look no further than the story of Beth Mooney's jaw. It’s a tale not of setback, but of spectacular, almost superhuman, defiance. The left-handed batting maestro, a cornerstone of a side often described as "generational," is now eyeing more glory, her face bearing the subtle evidence of past battles fought and won.
The Incident That Shook the Ashes
The moment itself was as innocuous as it was brutal. During a training session just days before the start of the 2023-24 Women’s Ashes, a powerful throw from teammate Megan Schutt took an awkward bounce off the practice wickets and smashed directly into Mooney’s face. The diagnosis was as severe as it was untimely: a fractured jaw. For most athletes, the tour, and certainly the opening match, would be immediately over. For Mooney, it was merely a new problem to solve. "I knew straight away it was broken," she recalls, the memory still vivid.
What followed was a masterclass in resilience and a testament to the team's "next woman up" mentality, even when that woman was patched together with wires and sheer will. She underwent surgery, which involved having her jaw wired shut to allow the bones to heal. The immediate physical challenges were immense, forcing a drastic change to her nutrition and threatening her ability to contribute. "I was on a liquid diet for a few weeks, which wasn't ideal for an elite athlete," she told BBC Sport with characteristic understatement.
A Batted Jaw and a Record Chase
Against all medical and sporting logic, Mooney was not only named in the squad for the one-off Test at Trent Bridge but was pencilled in to open the batting. The image of her walking out to the crease, her face protected by a custom-fitted helmet grill, became an instant symbol of Australian grit. She didn't just make up the numbers; she top-scored in the first innings with a vital 85 runs, an innings she describes as one of her proudest. "It was probably one of my better Test innings, given the circumstances," she said, the pride evident in her voice.
Her contribution was pivotal in a match Australia had to win to keep the Ashes alive after losing the opening T20I. The team went on to secure a dramatic victory, setting the stage for them to eventually retain the urn. Mooney’s bravery set a tone for the entire series, demonstrating a level of commitment that left teammates and opponents in awe. The challenges, however, were not just physical. The mental toll of playing through such a significant injury was immense.
- The Liquid Diet: Maintaining energy and weight was a constant battle, relying on protein shakes and blended meals.
- Communication: With her jaw wired, simple team talks and on-field strategy discussions became difficult.
- The Fear Factor: Every ball faced was a potential re-injury, a psychological hurdle few have to overcome at the highest level.
Part of a "Generational" Team
Mooney's story, while extraordinary, is not an isolated incident within the current Australian setup. It is emblematic of the culture that has made this team one of the most dominant forces in modern sport. Under the leadership of Alyssa Healy and the strategic guidance of coach Shelley Nitschke, the squad has cultivated an environment where individual sacrifice for collective success is the norm. Mooney herself is in awe of the unit she represents. "We're a generational team," she stated matter-of-factly. "We've got world-class players in every single position."
The statistics bear out her claim. The team holds simultaneous World Cup titles in both ODI and T20I cricket and has now retained the Women's Ashes in consecutive series. Their record-breaking 26-match ODI winning streak stands as a testament to their sustained excellence. This success, according to Mooney, is built on a foundation of fierce internal competition and unwavering mutual support. "We push each other to be better every day. There are girls in domestic cricket who are just as good as us, waiting for their opportunity."
The Records Tumble
The era of this Australian team has been defined by shattered records. Beyond the historic ODI streak, they have redefined what is possible in women's cricket:
- The highest-ever team total in Women's ODIs (412/3 vs Denmark).
- The record for most consecutive T20I wins (21 matches).
- A near-perfect win rate in multi-format series since 2015.
Eyes on the Future
Now fully recovered, her jaw a story for the grandkids rather than a daily hindrance, Mooney's focus is locked on the future. The next frontier is a Test series victory in India, a notoriously difficult assignment that has eluded many great Australian sides, and defending their T20 World Cup title in 2026. The hunger, she insists, is undimmed. The experience of playing through a broken jaw has only added another layer to her formidable mental fortitude.
"You learn a lot about yourself when you're faced with adversity like that," she reflects. "It makes the successes, like retaining the Ashes, even sweeter. It proved to me that I'm tougher than I sometimes think I am." For Beth Mooney and her generational teammates, the records are already in the books. The legacy, however, is still being written, one smashed record—and one broken jaw—at a time.