Roar Guru
It’s do or die for the English, as they take on Australia at North Sydney Oval in the first Women’s T20I of the summer this Friday. One Australian win will see the hosts retain the Ashes on home soil, so England cannot afford to lose. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).
The score sits at 4-2 in favour of Australia, following the drawn day-night Test also held at North Sydney Oval.
There, we saw history as Ellyse Perry smashed an unbeaten 213, grabbing the mantle of the highest score in Women’s Test history by an Australian in doing so.
England, however, were valiant in the final day, starving the Australians of chances as captain Heather Knight and Georgia Elwiss saw the match out to a draw, with the number three and four hitting 79 and 41 not out respectively.
The draw was important in the context of the series, as it meant that England are still in the hunt to regain the Ashes, which would cap off a tremendous year for the reigning World Champions.
However, to do so, they must win all three T20Is in the series, starting this Friday.
With the same pitch being used from the drawn Test, the crumbling wicket is expected to spin sharply, with the Australians having plenty of spin options at their disposal.
However, captain Rachel Haynes has ruled out the option of all four tweakers (Amanda-Jade Wellington, Molly Strano, Ashleigh Gardner and Jess Jonassen) playing.
Yet England may entertain the idea of doing so, with the potential return of one or both of Danielle Hazell and Danielle Wyatt, who are yet to play on the tour.
England may also be without World Cup final hero Anya Shrubsole, who missed the clash with the Governor-General’s XI with a hamstring complaint.
Players to watch
Australia: Ellyse Perry
The hero of the twilight Test, Perry is in sublime touch after her double century. Class mixed with power, Perry is in fine form, and a danger for the English with the bat, as well as with the ball, as she can be extremely difficult to get away. If Perry fires, Australia wins, it is as simple as that.
England: Heather Knight
The England captain batted the best she has all tour with her second innings 79. She did exactly what she needed to do as a captain, and led her team to safety. She did not look like getting out, and barely gave a chance, and would have looked good for a ton, had she not agreed to end things early with Haynes. She can hit a ball, and could lead the English to victory and really give them hope.
Prediction
England by 20 runs
England looked composed in both of their innings, and batsmen such as Beaumont, Winfield and Knight have seemed to finally find their touch.
They should come out strong, and put the sword to the Australians with everything on the line, and try to push this series one step closer to an exciting finale.
Can England keep the series alive? Or will Australia end their Ashes dreams and retain the urn on home soil? Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:10pm (AEDT).