Australia hold the lead in the Women’s Ashes and have the potential to wrap it up, but Test cricket is a different challenge and England will be desperate as the teams head to North Sydney Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 1 from 2:30pm (AEDT).
The Aussies won two of the three one-day matches and lead the Ashes by four points to two.
With a series total of 16 points up for grabs, the Test match is worth four, with three T20s rounding it out worth two apiece. As the holders, Australia need to reach eight points to retain the Ashes, so a win in the Test will seal the series. England need to rack up ten points for a series victory – or nine in the event of a draw.
The hosts’ form was superb during the second one-day match in particular. While the first was a scrappy win, Australia were utterly dominant in the second as they clinched a 4-0 lead in the series.
It was Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes who led the way in that match with the bat, although batting for long periods of time in Test cricket is a different challenge.
Beth Mooney, who will open the batting, is coming off a century in their warm-up game against an ACT XI, so there are plenty of positive signs for the Australian line-up. With Megan Schutt in fantastic form and spinner Amanda Wellington also bowling well, England’s batting order will need to stand up.
England’s batting wasn’t good enough in the first two one-day matches, although it was better in the third thanks to Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight, all of whom will have to be at the top of their game against the pink ball for the tourists to succeed.
The trio struggled in the first innings of their tour game against a Cricket Australia XI, although Taylor bounced back with 85 in the second dig. Lauren Winfield also hit some form, scoring 82. What was pleasing was the way Katherine Brunt got the new ball to swing, picking up four wickets in the first innings.
She troubled Australia during the limited overs fixtures and will be the key for England to limit scores here.
Prediction
Australia have been the more dominant of the two teams, and with Alex Blackwell, Rachael Haynes and Ellyse Perry leading the charge, as well as the bowling of Schutt, it’s hard to see England winning away from home.
Australia to retain the Women’s Ashes.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first day’s play in the Women’s Ashes Test from 2:30pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cheers mate, Yeah Shrubsole is going to be lethal with the pink ball.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Thanks for that Scott, Shrubsole did some good work for the Scorchers last season and five for against India in the World Cup final. Her bowling is better than her batting...
Scott Pryde
Expert
Right then, that'll be that for our live coverage of the first day's play of the Women's Ashes Test right here on The Roar. Thanks for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed the coverage. I'll be back here on The Roar tomorrow, live with Day 2 from 2:30pm (AEDT). Enjoy the rest of your evening and it's goodbye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
BOWLING SCORECARD
Scott Pryde
Expert
BATTING SCORECARD - England 1st innings
TOTAL: 7/235 (100)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Roarers, thoughts on the first day of this Test match?
Scott Pryde
Expert
STUMPS ON DAY 1 The final ball of the day then. Wellington tosses it up outside the off stump, it turns away into the gloves of Healy and that, will be that. Great day's play at North Sydney Oval. It's ebbed and flowed, but in the end, you'd have to think honours are reasonably even between the sides. Australia will be quite happy though given the situation of the game. England were at one point 2 for 130 with Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight plugging along well. They both went past half centuries, but the wickets fell regularly after that with Georgia Elwiss, Natalie Sciver and Sarah Taylor all managing to get starts. In the end, Fran Wilson and Anya Shrubsole saw it through to stumps. Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry bowled well early without luck, before Tahlia McGrath picked up the opening wicket. Amanda-Jade Wellington and Jess Jonassen got through plenty of quality work in the middle of the day before Perry came back wih the new ball under lights and did a superb job of grabbing a few wickets. Big day's play to come tomorrow. Australia need to get in early, but first they will have three wickets to get. England will want as many runs as possible, but need to keep the game moving. England 7/235 (100)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wellington gets her line a bit straighter this time and Wilson is forward in defence, just pushing it out to cover. The next is shorter, on that good line again and Wilson again cuts through point for a couple. England 7/235 (99.5)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wilson tosses this up on a very full length and it turns away outside the line of off stump. The next is just a bit shorter but again left alone. England 7/233 (99.3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fielders under the helmet on either side for Wellington. That little delay probably assures this to be the last over, so plenty of pressure on Fran Wilson right here. The first ball of this over is outside off, turning and there's plenty of width. Wilson hits the cut shot behind point and they grab a couple for it. England 7/233 (99.1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Amanda-Jade Wellington back into the attack. This will be a one over spell, because there certainly isn't time for three overs.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Shrubsole defends one off a length just outside the off stump, before she goes with a half volley length ball outside off stump. Shrubsole misses it and Healy does the keeping. There may well be time for 2 overs here. McGrath flew through that, but the English batters aren't in any hurry to get back in position. England 7/231 (99)
Scott Pryde
Expert
That really ducked in off the pitch there from McGrath. Right into the hips of Wilson who adjusts well and gets a single through square leg. Nice ball that, but well dealt with by Wilson. England 7/231 (98.4)
Scott Pryde
Expert
This is ran off the edge from Wilson here as she tries to get the bat out of the way, realising the ball was going to miss off stump. It goes safely to ground though. England 7/230 (98.3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
McGrath to continue with her 14th over. Wilson defends the first outside off stump, then punches a straighter ball to short mid wicket. Good fielding there. England 7/230 (98.2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
This is shorter from Jonassen and defended to cover by Shrubsole off the front foot. The last ball of the over again defended. Another maiden. Seven minutes, two overs to go. That probably sounds about right - not sure we will get three in. England 7/230 (98)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Shrubsole again defending with Jonassen really trying to keep on a full length here. The next is slightly shorter, but again defended by Shrubsole. England 7/230 (97.4)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jonassen to continue from around the wicket. Shrubsole is forward in defence to a full one on the first one, before she brings her bat around the front pad to defend a straighter one. England 7/230 (97.2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Some good fielding from Haynes prevents a single from a wider one, then a ball into the pads is defended back down the wicket. Wilson sitting on six, Shrubsole still to score. England 7/230 (97)
Scott Pryde
Expert
The next is full and straight from McGrath with Wilson looking to punch a drive down the ground. Doesn't beat McGrath in her follow through though. England 7/230 (96.4)