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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins & Vithushan Ehantharajah

Ellyse Perry scores 213 for Australia on day three of Women's Ashes Test match – as it happened

Australia’s Ellyse Perry becomes only the seventh woman to hit a Test double hundred
Australia’s Ellyse Perry becomes only the seventh woman to hit a Test double hundred Photograph: Daniel Munoz/AAP

Right, that’s all from us here. England return tomorrow having chipped that first-innings lead down to 128, with Tammy Beaumont set and Lauren Winfield steady.

Perry’s remarkable knock showed that the odds are still in your favour as a batsman. If Australia are to make inroads tomorrow, they’ll be relying on misjudgements through movement in the air rather than off the pitch. We’ll be back then to take you through proceedings. Cheers for your company.

Enjoy your Saturdays!

Updated

One of the great things about the women’s game.

Regardless of what might have happened in the day – good or bad, the players always make time for the fans:

Perry speaks. You should listen:

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STUMPS!

17th over: England 40-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 25)

Slip, silly point, bat pad – all three gagging for a chance before the day is done. There’s a sniff for bat pad when an inside-edge falls short. What looks like a googly is covered well by Beaumont, before a wider delivery is swept away for... well, byes, apparently. The swish of the bat doing for Healy down the leg side. Wellington gets her cap back and the bails are flicked off. What a day.

For the second-time in the last couple of hours, Ellyse Perry leads the players off to rapturous applause. Just to reiterate – her hand of 213 not out, the highest score by an Australian in women’s Test, established a lead for Australia and underlined Perry’s standing as one of the greats of the women’s game. Reaction as it comes...

16th over: England 37-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 24)

Winfield just having a cheeky net, now, as she works on a few high-elbow drives, with no intention of running. Think this is the penultimate over... Strong work from England.

15th over: England 37-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 24)

DROP! In fact, that’s harsh. Beaumont hangs back to Wellington – not advised – and under-edges onto the right knee of Healy. No chance she’s taking that. She’s not Sarah Taylor – and even Taylor would have done well to get near that. Amazing that Beaumont didn’t play on, either. Quality over from AJW. Already looks a great addition to international cricket.

14th over: England 37-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 24)

Better from Winfield: she doesn’t try to overhit the ball and times nicely through cover point for a couple. McGrath, though, not only adjusts her length but puts a bit of action on the next couple of deliveries which move in and almost cause Winfield to play onto her own stumps.

Can’t argue with Sarah, here.

13th over: England 35-0 (Winfield 10, Beaumont 24)

A chance! Beth Mooney’s sprawling to her left at silly point as Tammy Beaumont prods hard at a ball that tempts her forward. Well bowled, AJ-Dubz. One not so good – well, one that doesn’t turn – is tickled down leg for runs to Beamont.

12th over: England 33-0 (Winfield 10, Beaumont 22)

Beaumont misses out on a couple, middling a drive and cut to the fielders stationed on the off side. In good touch after her 70 in the first innings. We’ve got five overs left in the day and Amanda-Jade Wellington’s leggies are about to get an outing...

11th over: England 32-0 (Winfield 10, Beaumont 21)

Classical on-drive from Lauren Winfield, after video review, gets her four after Amanda-Jade Wellington handles the ball while her foot is on the boundary rope. Perry brings her length back and gets the ball moving into Winfield for an LBW appeal that, on first viewing, was slidng down. The umpire agrees. Beth Mooney throws down the stumps during the appeal, but Winfield was planted behind the line. Decent hurl, mind.

10th over: England 28-0 (Winfield 6, Beaumont 21)

Single apiece as McGrath strays a touch on length. As frustrating as England will have found the last five sessions, they’d have seen that this pitch is still so good for batting. Time = runs.

9th over: England 26-0 (Winfield 5, Beaumont 20)

Perry steams in, the crowd pick up... and Beaumont works the ball away down to fine leg for four. Decent numbers through the gates today. Should be similar for tomorrow.

8th over: England 21-0 (Winfield 5, Beaumont 15)

Ooh Aah Tahlia McGrath comes on for Jonassen, as the crowd lose patience with Rachael Haynes and start calling for the woman of the moment. And look who has the ball for the next over...

7th over: England 19-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 14)

Quality from Beaumont: inside-out drive is threaded through extra cover for four. Really good intent from Beaumont. Those runs aren’t going to knock off themselves.

6th over: England 11-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 6)

A maiden to Jonassen. Fairly innocuous, truth be told. Give Perry a Mars Bar and get her back on!

5th over: England 11-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 6)

Schutt, moving the ball into the right-hander, is too full and Beaumont digs one out well, through backward point, for four.

4th over: England 7-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 2)

There is turn out there for Jonassen but, I’m inclined to agree with Daggers, here:

If the reason you’re not bowling Perry is because she’s knackered, then fair enough. But new ball, in the dark – give it to Tahlia McGrath, who showed in the England first innings that she can move the ball both ways.

Updated

3rd over: England 4-0 (Winfield 3, Beaumont 1)

A CHANCE! Oh, Lauren Winfield, count yourself lucky. Beaumont tips and runs into space – plenty of space – but Winfield is late to respond to the call. Jonassen swoops from point, picks up cleanly and throws on the bounce to Alyssa Healy, who whips the bails off with Winfield touch and go as to whether she’s made her ground. In the end, she’s safe, but not by much. A direct hit and she’s back in the hutch nursing another paltry score...

2nd over: England 3-0 (Winfield 3, Beaumont 0)

Hello, curveball. Nice to be seeing you. Jess Jonassen it is to open up instead of Ellyse Perry, who might fancy a bit of a break. Understandable. Silly point, slip and every Aussie and their gran around the bat. Winfield pinches two and ensures every defensive stroke comes out of the middle and straight into the turf.

1st over: England 1-0 (Winfield 1, Beaumont 0)

A deficit of 168 to chip away at for England. Hopes of winning the Test were hampered by their collapse on the first evening. Now they’re nonexistent. Winfield gets herself and England off the mark.

Ha, of course Ellyse Perry is already out there and warming up to take the new ball! Freak of an athlete.

Here’s the moment she thought she got to that double...

And here’s when it actually happened...

THERE IT IS – FOR REAL! Ellyse Perry goes to a maiden double hundred!

166th over: Australia 448-9 declared (Perry 213, Schutt 1)

The field is up but that doesn’t matter. Ellyse Perry drives Ecclestone down the ground for four to take her past 200! Absolutely outstanding knock a a real privelege to be able to type these words on it. Just remarkable. And to celebrate, she smokes down the ground again, almost taking out the standing umpire and then skips and slaps Ecclestone over midwicket to devestating effect. The blows take her to the highest score in women’s Test cricket!

And... Australia have declared! They lead by 168 runs

Ellyse Perry raises her bat after making a double century.
Ellyse Perry raises her bat after making a double century. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/AAP

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PERRY GOES TO 200.... NO SHE DOESN'T!

165th over: Australia 434-9 (Perry 199, Schutt 1)

Absolute scenes at the North Sydney Oval! Ellyse Perry gets within six... and smashes Laura Marsh high and over midwicket... the helmet is off, the badge is kissed, the hugs are plentiful... but it’s only four! Can you believe it! A single takes her to 199 and the ground holds its breath to see if Megan Schutt can keep out the final two balls of the over. She can...

Ellyse Perry kisses her helmet after thinking she had scored 200.
Ellyse Perry kisses her helmet after thinking she had scored 200. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/AAP

Updated

164th over: Australia 427-9 (Perry 193, Schutt 0)

Big shout against Schutt first up! Perry, seven away at the nonstriker’s end, looked worried. But the ball – yorker length, was angling down the leg side. Schutt can bat, but Perry needs to take matters – personal and team – into her own hands.

WICKET! Wellington LBW b Ecclestone 2 (Australia 427-9)

Eccclestone, around the wicket, draws Wellington into a sweep. The turn away from the right-hander is enough to miss the swing of the bat and hit the ribs of the right-hander. Hitting middle and off. Ecclestone has three-fer.

163rd over: Australia 426-8 (Perry 192, Wellington 8)

We’re officially on “Perry 200” watch. A couple of singles, including a bunted full toss that could have been put away for more, takes her to within eight.

Updated

162nd over: Australia 423-8 (Perry 190, Wellington 1)

An LBW shout for Ecclestone as Wellington is caught playing across the line. Impact was outside of off stump and a leg bye is taken to point.

161st over: Australia 421-8 (Perry 189, Wellington 1)

Signs of the time. The new ball is available but England haven’t taken it because, as much as it might swing, it could also go for a few. And, with a new batsman at the crease – Amanda-Jade Wellington (number ten, no less) – there is no slip or any close catcher. Wellington pinches the strike with her first run in Test cricket.

WICKET! Jonassen c Winfield b Marsh 24 (Australia 420-8)

Jonassen tries to carve Marsh over the off side. She got into position early, but perhaps too early. Marsh spots her and throws it very wide and, in going after it, skes high to Lauren Winfield at point.

160th over: Australia 419-7 (Perry 188, Jonassen 24)

Ecclestone up to the plate now, ball firmly in hand this time, as she sends down her 34th over of this innings. Aside from that slip in the previous over, she’s looked very accomplished on debut.

159th over: Australia 416-7 (Perry 186, Jonassen 23)

Oh Ecclestone. An age of grazing on debut and now a misfield as Jonassen looks for only one to the deep but Ecclestone doesn’t get enough of herself behind the ball. Four bits.

158th over: Australia 410-7 (Perry 186, Jonassen 18)

Jonassen’s up to allsorts. Sophie Ecclestone, left-arm over to the left- and right-hander, is swept by JJ, as she moves across her stumps and works the spinner expertly beyond the fielder stationed right on the square leg fence.

We interrupt this OBO for some mechanical scoreboard porn

157th over: Australia 402-7 (Perry 183, Jonassen 12)

A succession of late cuts from Perry takes Australia past 400 and takes Laura Marsh to within nine runs of an unwanted ton of her own.

156th over: Australia 396-7 (Perry 178, Jonassen 11)

Perry bags the fifth highest score for an Australian in a women’s Test as she clouts a short ball from Elwiss through midwicket. There’s a whiff of a chance at the over’s conclusion as Jonassen flays through backward point – Fran Wilson with the Superwoman dive in vain – and then in the running as a two is turned down with Jonassen too keen for the return run.

A tough day in the field for Fran Wilson and England.
A tough day in the field for Fran Wilson and England. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/AAP

Updated

155th over: Australia 388-7 (Perry 172, Jonassen 9)

Jonassen using her golf skills to good effect this over. Marsh drifts one into her and she stays deadly still before lofting it down the ground for four. Had a handicap of 10 as a nipper, apparently.

154th over: Australia 382-7 (Perry 171, Jonassen 4)

Jonassen playing herself in. Perry oiling the joints as she looks to hit a few more in the air. England desperate for a “SIM TO END OF INNINGS” option. Ausralia lead by 102.

153rd over: Australia 380-7 (Perry 170, Jonassen 3)

Ermm... that’s a bit odd. Perry heaves Laura Marsh deep into the leg side, where Sophie Ecclestone runs in to... take it on the bounce? She definitely could have got there to take it on the full, but it looks like she just didn’t pick it up at all. “Didn’t get on the motorbike quick enough,” says Lisa Sthalekar.

Updated

152nd over: Australia 377-7 (Perry 168, Jonassen 2)

Back in action after dinner and so is Ellyse Perry, who drives down the ground for a single. Jess Jonassen gets off the mark with a couple flicked high-elbow-y through midwicket. What a luxury to have her in this low.

I watched her Test debut at Canterbury in 2015 and she looked a million bucks. Drives like a leftie. All in.

Dinner!

151st over: Australia 374-7 (Perry 167, Jonassen 0)

Perry leaves the field first after Jonassen negotiates the final five balls of a pretty remarkable session for Australia. Tough graft for England, as Perry and McGrath made hay while the sun shone and while it disappeared, too. Australia lead by 94 runs at the break.

I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, messrs Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon are on BBC Test Match Special during this 40-minute break. Always worth a listen:

150th over: Australia 373-7 (Perry 166)

A boundary! And it was worth the wait: Elwiss angles one into middle stump and Perry lassoos it through the only part of the boundary unpatrolled – midwicket – for four. It brings up the century partnership between her and McGrath, from 213 balls. Can I say McGrath “deserved a fifty”? Certainly after being dropped on nought.

Updated

WICKET! McGrath c Sciver b Elwiss 47 (Australia 373-7)

Tahlia, what have you done! Three away from a maiden Test half-century, she gets a full toss and hits it high rather than far. Nat Sciver at midwicket doesn’t have to move to take a smart high catch. Gutting.

149th over: Australia 366-6 (Perry 160, McGrath 46)

Like this. McGrath’s taking guard outside leg stump to give herself swinging room to get Knight down the ground. No real damage – though five from the over is an improvement – as Knight changes her line to counter it.

148th over: Australia 361-6 (Perry 157, McGrath 44)

Georgia Elwiss into the attack with her mediums. Again, Tahlia McGrath walks across to manufacture length. The big shots are there, lurking, but the pace off the pitch is keeping them at bay.

Updated

147th over: Australia 358-6 (Perry 155, McGrath 43)

Not pretty, but Knight and her bowlers are just trying to take time out of the game. Given how easy batting is right now, it makes sense. The ball looks like it’s witnessed some unspeakable horrors and is falling to pieces. Much like England’s Ashes hopes...

146th over: Australia 356-6 (Perry 154, McGrath 42)

Right, here we go. A message was brought out before this Nat Sciver over started and it seems to be “Get a wiggle on!” McGrath walks across her stumps to bunt Sciver into the leg side. Perry, again, is too keen for a single that’s not there. The scoreboard might not be nice viewing if you’re an England fan, but the setting certainly is...

145th over: Australia 352-6 (Perry 154, McGrath 38)

Heather Knight brings herself on, around the wicket, to these right-handers. Cover on the leg side in play as both right-handers opt to work with the angle.

Updated

144th over: Australia 348-6 (Perry 151, MCGrath 38)

A rare moment of alarm for Ellyse Perry, who’s too enthusiastic for a single and has to double-back when McGrath’s call of “NO!” comes through. A better throw might have troubled her, but a dive did the trick.

150 up for Perry!

143rd over: Australia 347-6 (Perry 150, McGrath 38)

Here we go... Tahlia McGrath dances down and swings through the line of a delivery from Marsh to get four over the head of Sophie Ecclestone. Belting shot. Ecclestone drops back and a streetsmart McGrath takes the single on offer. A drive to mid off an a misfield by Lauren Winfield takes Perry to 150 from 382 balls (21 fours). She’s not going to stop, is she?

142nd over: Australia 340-6 (Perry 148, McGrath 33)

McGrath’s frustration at hitting fielders and not having much to work with down the ground is compounded by a quick look to the scoreboard. Not so much the rate – though that is dying – but the realisation that, had she joined any other player, she’d have a “kinder” field...

141st over: Australia 338-6 (Perry 147, McGrath 33)

Good use of the feet by McGrath and then Perry to pick-up singles through midwicket and cover, respectively. A charge from McGrath is curtailed by a full-bunger, which she hits flat towards Sophie Ecclestone at mid on. A nasty bounce nearly takes it over the tall Lancastrian, but she keeps her cool, pats it down and ensures it’s only a single. Just signs that these two are starting to up the tempo...

In case you were wondering what other major milestones Perry has under her belt: here’s a goal in a World Cup...

Updated

140th over: Australia 334-6 (Perry 144, McGrath 31)

Nat Sciver into the attack, bowling on the inside limit, wide of the off side. handful of plays and misses are more in frusrtation for Australia than an error for England to get excited about. One of the more forgetful overs. Tahlia McGrath’s not bothered.

139th over: Australia 33-16 (Perry 142, McGrath 31

An email from Andrew Benton: “The North Sydney Oval looks like time hasn’t touched it in many decades - is it all that olde-worldey? Looks great.” It really is gorgeous: grass banks, views into the city and a setting sun. Stick that on a postcard. Two from the over.

138th over: Australia 329-6 (Perry 141, McGrath 30)

Morning everyone in London, good early-eve to those in Australia. And just a straight-up welcome to those of you joining in from other parts of the globe. Vish here, picking up Act Two of the Ellyse Perry show. Christ, she’s good. Gets off strike with a late cut that, were she not as good, would have gone for four. England don’t have a fielder within spitting distance of her as they look to block all her scoring options.

137th over: Australia 327-6 (Perry 140, McGrath 29)

Perry has this down to a very neat formula, at the risk of repetition. One early in the over to the legside, McGrath playing out the rest. Another very good hour for Australia comes to an end. For it is wicketless. Granted, only 34 runs came, but with every slow over we’re edging closer to a drawn result here, I think. So the real action now, in the immediate term at least, becomes what Perry can finish with. For that, I’ll leave you with Vish who takes over from London. Thanks for your company over the last few hours. I’ll catch you tomorrow.

136th over: Australia 326-6 (Perry 139, McGrath 29)

Perry one closer to a Test 150, taking Shrubsole down the ground. McGrath, in keeping with the theme of the hour, is keeping enough defending the rest. One over until they take a drink, which will mark the half way mark of this third day. One the hosts have dominated.



135th over: Australia 325-6 (Perry 138, McGrath 29)

Marsh on for another trundle. Didn’t do a lot wrong before tea, and won the single breakthrough England have had today. A maiden here to McGrath, right back into that shoebox. Her 11th maiden in 33 overs. Can’t ask a lot more than that as far as building pressure. Just hasn’t been sustained from the other end for long enough periods.

134th over: Australia 325-6 (Perry 138, McGrath 29)

Ooooooh yeah, that’s a good old drive on the up from McGrath. She’s certainly shown plenty in this innings, in addition to a couple of wickets with her medium pace, to suggest she is going to be around for a while. Shrubsole’s over leaks six, Australia’s lead is 45. That number has been two other times in this Test. It was what England added yesterday aftenoon for their final three wickets, and the runs Australia’s openers put on yesterday when they were chasing the game. Feels a long time ago now. Not good for the tourists. Not much they can do from here. Maybe both sides are happy enough to split the difference and take the draw from here? This ball is 54 overs old, by the way. Yep, time to start thinking about the worst three words in the cricket language: Third New Ball.

Updated

133rd over: Australia 319-6 (Perry 137, McGrath 24)

Over the wicket for Ecclestone now. I don’t mind that, changing the angle to Perry who got the day rolling against her earlier on. Keeps her at bay with five well-directed dots, but the century-maker keeps the strike by coming down the track to the final ball, turning against the spin around the corner. A lot harder to do than it looks.

Updated

132nd over: Australia 318-6 (Perry 136, McGrath 24)

Shrubsole to replace Brunt, after a decent spell over the last 40 minutes or so from the Fig Tree end. Anya struggled earlier today, hit out of the attack by Healy. But has a big brain, so will come to this spell with various thoughts on how she can resurrect England’s day. Not in this over though, three singles taken to midwicket.

131st over: Australia 315-6 (Perry 134, McGrath 23)

Ecclestone keeping McGrath put for a second maiden on the trot. Good little contest between the two young guns on Test debut. Australia have only added 23 runs in the last 10 overs, giving a sense of the gear shift since the tea break.

130th over: Australia 315-6 (Perry 134, McGrath 23)

Singles to both, Perry digging down the ground with timing then McGrath pulling square. The former takes a couple more out behind point with a minimum of fuss. Brunt looks angry, which could help. They need something. Anything.

129th over: Australia 311-6 (Perry 131, McGrath 22)

McGrath Beaten. Is that the first time Ecclestone (or anyone?) has defied the outside edge today? Reckon it might me. Or near enough. Doing a nice job wheeling away from the around the wicket after tea, but yet to find a way through. Beaten again! Look, really nice over. “You just get the feeling we are going to be commentating on Ecclestone and McGrath for really long time,” Mel Jones says on TMS. Couldn’t agree more. Maiden.


128th over: Australia 311-6 (Perry 131, McGrath 22)

Short, pulled, four. Brunt drops short to McGrath after Perry gives her the strike again, and she thumps her through midwicket. “It says a lot about the skillset of McGrath,” says Mel Jones on the radio. “She did that with absolute ease. It was almost as if you known she had gone through it in her head before Brunt bowled the ball.” Into the 20s she moves. She then keeps the strike with a prod out to deep point.

127th over: Australia 305-6 (Perry 130, McGrath 17)

Down the ground for Perry this time. She is very happy to offer the strike to McGrath, who is in no hurry. Ecclestone has been much better after tea, in fairness. Wonder what Australia are planning here? No hurry. Bat England into a position where the best they can hope for is a draw? Good part of the multiformat series is that there are broader considerations than usual. A reminder that Australia hold the trophy, so England need to claim ten points in order to win the series. They can only lose two more. If they draw this, they need to sweep the T20s. If they lose, it is over. Got it?

Updated

126th over: Australia 304-6 (Perry 129, McGrath 17)

Perry forces off the back foot to point for a single, again getting off strike early on. Supreme batting. Meanwhile, Charlotte Edwards is talking to England legend Enid Bakewell on the telly, who is getting right into the spirit of things.

125th over: Australia 303-6 (Perry 128, McGrath 17)

Perry again gets herself off strike early in the over, through a drive to mid-on. So good at that, she is. McGrath happy enough to learn forward in defence to see the over out.

Her cover drive here from the previous Soph Ecc over.



124th over: Australia 302-6 (Perry 127, McGrath 17)

Brunt has Taylor up to the stumps within an over of the resumption. And lands the most immaculate Ian Harvey slower ball. She loves it too, big smile on her face. You’ll have to excuse me for getting excited about these back-of-hand beauties. Harvey was my guy as a kid. Indeed, if you have the time to dig through my instagram (don’t, honestly) there is a diary entry I found as a kid detailing the day where The Freak made his maiden First Class ton. Yep, this is why I was so popular in school. Perry gets one to third man later in the over, the only score from it.

I am most of the 337,152 hits on this clip. FYI.

123rd over: Australia 301-6 (Perry 126, McGrath 17)

McGrath’s fourth boundary, but first through the posh side. She didn’t miss out when Ecclestone gave her a half-volley to launch into. Good batting. Australia’s 300 up with that as well.

122nd over: Australia 297-6 (Perry 126, McGrath 13)

Less than ideal start from Brunt, slidingonto Perry’s pads who helps herself to four with a leg glance that races away to the boundary. Oh, they’re leg byes actually. Four runs all the same. She is back on the mark after that, keeping Perry in defensive mode. They will know that Australia bat deep. But also, that picking up the talismanic Australian could be the opening they need. Worth remembering that there are only five sessions left in this game too, so Australia will have to make a strategic decision of having a real dip with a view to getting out of there soon to start collecting the wickets they need to win, or building a lead as big as possible to exert maximum scoreboard pressure on England later today. Either way, England’s chances of winning the Test are diminishing by the over.

121st over: Australia 293-6 (Perry 126, McGrath 13)

Yep, that’s a good one to get going. Ecclestone at her best when flipping between flat deliveries pinning players back, and loop that draws them forward. She does both here, conceding a single down the ground to the first ball but nothing more.

We’re back. Sophie Ecclestone has the ball from the City End. Huge spell for her.

TEA - Australia 292-6 (Perry 125, McGrath 13)

Perry leads McGrath off, receiving a generous round of applause from the Thompson Stand. She put on an even 100 with Healy, who was the only wicket to fall when holing out for a timely and punchy 45. But the story is Perry, who now finally has an international century to her name, coming from a sweep off Marsh. Across 266 balls at the crease by the break, she has been all-but flawless.

Her cutting off Ecclestone the tone for the session early, England pulling the wrong lever early by starting with the spin from the City End instead of all-out pace after the success they had the previous evening with the second new ball.

As the bowlers were cycled through, nothing worked for the visitors. When Healy wasn’t given leg before off Sciver, it looked like a wicketless session would be recorded. But Marsh did win the error in the next over to end the defining partnership with Australia just short of a first innings lead.

It should have been wickets in consecutive overs with Australia still ten runs short of passing England, but Knight put down a straightforward chance to McGrath’s first ball. Instead, she has hit 13 quick runs to put Australia ahead at the break by a dozen runs.

With 115 runs and one wicket across the two hours, England will now be quietly thinking that a draw could be the best they can salvage unless something special happens and fast. By contrast, Australia have opened the door to a victory that would secure them the Ashes before a ball has been bowled of the T20s. Back in ten.

120th over: Australia 292-6 (Perry 125, McGrath 13)

Elwiss to have the last one. Shrubsole tries to make something from nothing, hitting the non-strikers’ stumps. But nothing in it. There is something for the hom side though, the medium pacer missing her length, McGrath collecting her second boundary through midwicket from full tosses. She’s into double figures, as is Australia’s lead. She knocks the last couple on the head. And that is tea.

Updated

119th over: Australia 287-6 (Perry 124, McGrath 9)

They have taken their time between overs there, so many they want to make this just the one. McGrath helps if that is the plan, whipping Marsh away behind square for her second boundary. No risks there - very good shot. They have a short leg and slip in play or the final balls. Oh, I was wrong. They will get another in, as McGrath dead bats the rest of the over.



118th over: Australia 283-6 (Perry 124, McGrath 5)

Better from McGrath, taking one through midwicket early in the new Elwiss over. Perry happy enough to see out the rest. Five minutes to the shorter tea break (if new to pink-ball cricket, the breaks are reversed) she has done more than enough to go in unbeaten. But what will England try with probably two overs until the interval? “Make big plays,” as Josh said to Donna in the West Wing episode I watched last night after work (livin’ la vida loca, me). That’s what Knight needs to do as captain now.

117th over: Australia 282-6 (Perry 124, McGrath 4)

Perry realises that there is little point hanging around to slowly start another stand, using her feet to meet Marsh around wicket, completing yet another beautiful cover drive to the rope. And that is the lead for Australia! They have hit the front before lunch after trailing by 103 when play resumed. Cop that.

“At close of play yesterday I high hopes,” writes Phil Withall. “No that’s not right. I had hope, nope still not right. I almost believed England would be capable of making a good game of this test. This session has extinguished my dreams. And now that wicket will make it almost start again.”

Dare to dream, Phil. It is what this is all about, no?

116th over: Australia 278-6 (Perry 120, McGrath 4)

Dropped! Oh that’s a shocking drop by the captain Heather Knight at short cover. First ball of McGrath’s innings. A wicket there would have done wonders for the visitors, but it isn’t to be. Elwiss’ first ball of the day as well. Instead, a full toss follows to allow McGrath to get off the mark with the easiest of clips through midwicket. The last ball of the over is left very close to the off-stump. Eventful moments. Ten minutes to lunch.



Updated

115th over: Australia 274-6 (Perry 120, McGrath 0)

The loss of Perry’s partner doesn’t cause her to lose stride, sweeping expertly to keep Australia moving towards a first innings lead. Quite the highlight reel she is pulling together here, some glorious shot this afternoon. Tahlia McGrath is the new batsman, the South Australian all-rounder on her Test debut.



WICKET! Healy c Shrubsole b Marsh 45 (Australia 270-6)

It doesn’t matter! England get Healy a couple of balls later, trying to smash Marsh over the top but failing to clear Shrubsole who tooks a good catch at mid-off running back and to her right. It has taken the better part of two hours, but they have finally got the breakthrough. The end of a wonderful 100 run stand.

Updated

114th over: Australia 269-5 (Perry 115, Healy 45)

Oh that is wonnnnnderful timing from Perry. Rocking back to Sciver, she carves behind point just as she did in the first over of the day. Depth of the crease, using the pace. Superb batting. That’s the 100 partnership from 195 balls. Another out to the cover sweeper gives Healy one to see out. Big shout for LBW but it is turned down! Oh, it’s out too! No DRS, so no review available to Sciver and Knight. “He must have thought it was angling down the legside,” Charles Dagnall assumes on the radio. “How dearly England would have liked to have seen Umpire Joshua raise his finger there.” Not wrong.

Updated

113rd over: Australia 264-5 (Perry 110, Healy 45)

Marsh goes around the wicket this time. May as well. No choice but to mix it up. To that end, can’t be far away from Knight giving herself another go here. Took a 5-for in her first match as captain in 2016. Healy, nearing her half-century, is seeing them beautifully. No risks here though, no runs either to Marsh’s credit.

112nd over: Australia 264-5 (Perry 110, Healy 45)

One to Perry to midwicket, then another for Healy to mid-on. The latter is nearly stopped by the diving Wilson, but they rotate the strike in time. A couple more to Perry in that square leg region to end the over. Batting is getting easier by the minute for the Australians. They’re cashing in.



111th over: Australia 260-5 (Perry 108, Healy 43)

Marsh has another go at breaking up this stand. Perry defends until the penultimate ball, where she rocks back and pushes past the stumps for one. Full toss to end the over and Healy doesn’t miss out, clobbering all the way onto the hill for six! Her second big one of the session. That’s a dreadful way to end the over, and more or less sums up England’s morning. She hasn’t done a lot wrong herself, but doesn’t excuse the free hit she’s given Healy there.



110th over: Australia 253-5 (Perry 107, Healy 37)

Sciver to the century-maker Perry. That has a nice ring to it. To think she was a number nine four years ago. She gets off strike early in the over past square leg. Healy blocks out the rest. “These two have played every bowler well,” says Isa Guha on TMS. “No one has had too much of an influence.”

109th over: Australia 252-5 (Perry 106, Healy 37)

Healy carves Marsh through the covers off the back foot and it crawls and crawls... all the way to the rope. The TV ump consulted to make sure that is the case. Australia’s 250 up all of a sudden, the hosts only trailing by 28 runs. They’ve added 75 since the resumption 84 minues ago today.

108th over: Australia 248-5 (Perry 106, Healy 33)

For World Cup and Ashes winner Isa Guha offers a timely reminder on the radio: if England lose this Test, the Ashes are over. If it turns out that way, they will be able to pinpoint this session. It has been a shocker for them. But the beauty of their 280 runs on the board is that they are only a couple of wickets from being quickly back in it. But where does it come from? Not from Nat Sciver in this over, who concedes a single to each of the set players through the legside.



107th over: Australia 246-5 (Perry 105, Healy 32)

Perry grabs a single to begin the over, but Marsh is on the mark to Healy for the rest. David Warner talks about positive defence, and that is what Healy is all about here, striding forward each time with purpose. Has a habit of giving it away once she is well set. That’s her next challenge: making this great start really count.

106th over: Australia 245-5 (Perry 104, Healy 32)

A lot has been made of this England team’s bouncebackability, but they have to show it here. Nat Sciver has a chance with the ball for the first time today after Shrubsole was hit out of the attack. But Healy welcomes her by lashing a half-volley to the rope at cover! She moves into the 30s. Then a couple more around the corner to keep that board motoring. Six from it, which makes 47 from the last ten overs.

Here is her big one from before the drinks break.



105th over: Australia 239-5 (Perry 104, Healy 26)

To hammer home the point, Perry takes a second boundary down to the fine leg region to narrow the scoreboard gap yet further. At this rate, Australia will have a handy lead by the the tea break. All the pressure back on England.

Ellyse Perry brings up her maiden Test century!

Secured from the first ball after drinks with a deft glance off Laura Marsh. What a magnificent moment for the superstar allrounder. She meets it with a huge leap in the air. So many times beyond 50, but at last she has done it. An innings of 225 balls, including 17 boundaries. Vital in the context of the game as well, navigating her side into a very handy position from a spot of vulnerability last night.

Ellyse Perry celebrates after scoring a century.
Ellyse Perry celebrates after scoring a century. Photograph: Daniel Munoz/EPA

Updated

104th over: Australia 231-5 (Perry 96, Healy 26)

Shrubsole gets another, the last before drinks. But much for the convention of defending it out for a glass of cordial, Healy instead going large! That’s a wonderfully timed clip over midwicket, clearing the rope. The first six of the game! She goes again, but with a glorious stroke to the same part of the ground, this time along the carpet. Outstanding batting. It punctuates a brilliant hour for Australia, who resumed at 177-5 and have added 56 runs without loss. England need to regroup, and fast.


103rd over: Australia 221-5 (Perry 96, Healy 16)

Laura Marsh replaces Ecclestone from the City End. Good call. Marsh has a five-wicket bag on this field, was a vital cog in England’s World Cup win here in 2009 and outstanding yesterday. Has the experience to ensure Perry won’t be getting these four runs for free. A short midwicket in play now as well, but Perry is defending a fraction squarer than that throughout the set, forced to go forward then back. A maiden it is. Exhale.

102nd over: Australia 221-5 (Perry 96, Healy 16)

Shrubsole to Healy. Five-four field, no real catchers besides Knight at shortish extra cover. But Healy finds a gap in the ring for a couple, albeit through for a brief moment causing the bowler to let out a sigh. Perry back on strike for the next over, one boundary away from three figures.

101st over: Australia 219-5 (Perry 96, Healy 14)

Thanks for those who picked up that I called it the England 200 rather than Australia before. Chalk it up to me carrying both passports. Right. Ecclestone again. Healy hoicks! Doesn’t get all of this, but doesn’t go to hand. First false stroke of the day. Perry’s turn, and she is on the advance and picking the gap through midwicket for four! Lovely timing. That brings her to 96. Also brings up the 50 stand between these two. Vital runs to say the least. England in a bit of strife now.

100th over: Australia 214-5 (Perry 92, Healy 13)

Back to back boundaries! Shrubsole is back into the attack and Perry immediately gets her away twice behind point. The first is from the outside of the bat and not in complete control, but the second is top shelf, using the pace of the pace. Into the 90s she goes. In response, Knight shuffles Winfield from first slip to, oh, fly slip I guess you’d call that? Shrubsole knows how to bounce back in this situation. Speaking to her recently (for another publication, so I won’t be rude and link) she explained to me how she calmed down after being whacked for two boundaries on the spin in the 43rd over of the World Cup final. Half an hour later, she had taken 5-for-13 in the spell and won England the trophy. What she’d give for something like that right now.

99th over: Australia 206-5 (Perry 84, Healy 13)

Ecclestone again begins with a fully, her third of this spell. The pressure is piling up on the 18 year old after really impressing yesterday. Her Dad also told me yesterday that she hasn’t any concern bowling long spells, conditioned to it from playing men’s grade cricket. Knight makes a move, pushing herself into catching cover. It heads in her general direction, but no runs beyond the single to start.

98th over: Australia 205-5 (Perry 83, Healy 13)

Short, pulled, four! Healy smacks Brunt to the rope with venom. That brings up Australia 200 as well. The deficit has narrowed from 103 to 77 so far this morning, this pair doing precisely what the home side required: seeing off the second new ball. Healy sweets another single in front of point. Then Perry gets one herself off the hip the midwicket to keep the strike. Six from the over. That’ll do. That deficit now 75.



Updated

97th over: Australia 199-5 (Perry 82, Healy 9)

Our first single of the day! Healy taking one from Ecclestone. The only run from the over, behind square off the pads.



96th over: Australia 198-5 (Perry 82, Healy 7)

Up to the stumps comes Sarah Taylor to Brunt’s fourth over of the spell. This is always exciting. She isn’t required though, Perry kept honest with six deliveries that need the bat to be used. A couple of slower balls in the mix there too, suggesting that England have officially reverted to Plan B.

“Good morning from Ireland,” emails Dave Kinsella. Morning to you. “I’ve got to say, I was very impressed by the Aussie coach’s honest summary of the last session yesterday. In which he admitted his team were counting down the bal;s to stumps and admiring the English bowling efforts. This is simply Cricket.”

He also said he was pretty disappointed at the scoring rates of both teams. My sense is that both he and Mark Robinson are going to really load on the pitch after this match, regardless of the result.

Oh by the way, England have finished it off in Adelaide. Jimmy took the last couple, finishing with 3-for-12. Always a good night out on the gallop in Adelaide. Wonder if they’ll sneak out for a little look? Hope so.

95th over: Australia 198-5 (Perry 82, Healy 7)

Right. Ecclestone is back in her happy place over the last couple of overs, mixing up her speeds to Alyssa Healy, but on lengths that require defence. Really good. But there’s still plenty of chat about why she was opening the bowling today in the first place. “Unbelievable” says Mel Jones on TMS of the decision.

94th over: Australia 198-5 (Perry 82, Healy 7)

11th of November, so both sides are also wearing poppies to mark 99 years since the end of the First World War. But don’t think for a moment that you’re going to get a war analogy from me in the next sentence about the game in front of us. No. On the field, it’s Brunt versus Perry. She’s keeping it full, seeking swing, but not a lot is coming. One jags one back at the well-set batsman, but she has enough time to get down on it. Good cricket. Maiden.

Meanwhile in Adelaide, the CAXI are in strife. I find pronouncing it “Kacksi” makes them feel more like a cricket team. Anyway, England’s seamers are running amok. Those that are still fit, that is. Sidebar on this: what has Liam Plunkett gotta do to win a flight to Australia? Blimey.



93rd over: Australia 198-5 (Perry 82, Healy 7)

Couple to Healy off the first ball of Ecclestone’s new over, turned around the corner and beating Laura Marsh. It’s a misfield, on reflection. Oh, there it is! Ecclestone has a superb arm ball and it neeearly gets through Healy, just as it did in her first ODI of the series in Coffs Harbour the week before last. Very close to off stump. This is a good over, bringing Healy forward with some flight, then again pushing her back with that quicker one that doesn’t turn as much. Nice contest. Pats on the back all round.



92nd over: Australia 196-5 (Perry 82, Healy 5)

Charles Dagnall is flummoxed by the tactics of starting with spin today from the City End when the ball is still so new. “If it is going to swing (the pink ball) it does in the first ten to 12 overs of the innings. Then you consider that Katherine Brunt got a late wicket last night, and would be bowling into a slight breeze assisting that little bit of away swing. I don’t know.” Really odd. One for Heather Knight at stumps.

It is Brunt now for her second over after replacing Shrubsole, appealing ambitiously as a leg bye is taken. They rotate, so it’s Perry to face up from this end for the first time today. She’s forced to defend with Brunt right on the money.

91st over: Australia 195-5 (Perry 82, Healy 5)

Ecclestone gets another go. And she finds her length at last, keeping Perry forward throughout the over. She nearly beats Knight when using her feet and making wonderful contact, but at cover the England skipper makes the save with one hand. Watching the replay, she’s saved four there. Back to back maidens.

90th over: Australia 195-5 (Perry 82, Healy 5)

Brunt is back, belatedly for mine, replacing Shrubsole from our end of the North Sydney Oval. Australian coach Matthew Mott freely admitted that they were counting down the balls to stumps last night, Brunt beating the bat time and again. But it hasn’t moved much so far this afternoon. We’ll see. Keeps Healy down the business end throughout with a useful maiden. The last ball kept a low a bit, which could be a bit of a bother later on.

On the radio, Jim Maxwell is critical of the track, believing more grass should have been left on to generate more bounce. Hard to dispute that. He has also been passed a note by master statistician Ric Finlay pitching up a Women’s Sheffield Shield, with games played over three days. Yes, please. On pitch chat, Lottie continues: “The pitch we had in Perth for the 2014 was the best we ever played on. It was quick and bounced.”

89th over: Australia 195-5 (Perry 82, Healy 5)

Ecclestone better. Pushes one through to Perry who misses on the back foot, then drawing her forward. Oh, spoke to soon, Perry latching onto the final ball of the over, carving behind point for the fourth boundary in four overs this morning! That’s a fantastic shot, placement perfect and footwork to match. She’s into the 80s.



88th over: Australia 191-5 (Perry 78, Healy 5)

Shrubsole let’s the Australians get a couple off the pad when spraying. “Pad is good as the bat in that respect,” says Jim Maxwell on the wireless. But she’s right back on the mark for the rest of the set. Perry moved to her highest score in Test cricket with those boundaries in the previous over, by the way. Australia now 89 behind.

87th over: Australia 189-5 (Perry 78, Healy 5)

Sophie Ecclestone to get first use from the city end. Quite surprised by that, Brunt was absolutely all over these two before stumps last night. New rock only six overs old. Odd. Perry doesn’t mind the call at all, cashing in after getting a full toss first ball, smacking it down the ground for four. Perfect start to the day. 26 away from a maiden international ton. The left-armer is up appealing next ball for a catch down the legside, but it’s not much a shout from behind the wicket. Another full toss from Ecclestone later in the over - that’s a shocker. Waist high and Perry carves it through point. Real help yourself stuff there. Make that 22 away. Perfect start from Australia. More to the point, awful start for England.

86th over: Australia 181-5 (Perry 70, Healy 5)

Shoooooooooot. Healy away for the day second ball of it with a delicious straight drive, whizzing by the stumps and to the rope. “You won’t see much better than that,” says Charlotte Edwards (Lottie from now on) on the TMS call. Very solid in defence thereafter, elbow up nice and high.



England and Australia on the way out in their baggy pinks.

Returning them back to the McGrath Foundation for charity auction at a later date. Fantastic from CA putting on the day three Sydney ritual in the women’s Test as well. The HQ staffer who looks after community engagement, Adam Cassidy, is a class act. I get stuck into CA a fair bit (when they deserve it), but they do this stuff extremely well.

Righto. Perry and Healy ready to roll. Shrubsole has the ball from the Fig Tree End. PLAY!

Geoffers has been down having a look.



Sophie Ecclestone. The big winner from day two was England’s 18-year-old debutant tweaker, who earned plenty of fans. Comparisons to Daniel Vettori in the TMS radio commentary box were spot on, the left-arm ortho using her height and accuracy to great effect with two top order breakthroughts. (Should have been three, had Haynes plum, but let’s not dwell).

I had the great pleasure of spending the time watching the proud Lancastrian bowl with her parents Paul and Elaine. They weren’t sure if they could get time off work of the cash together to make it over, but as her mum told me, they wouldn’t have forgiven themselves had they decided to stay home.

Lottie Edwards presented Sophie her Test cap before the opening day but it looked like they would miss the formalities, stuck outside the gates as it was before the public were allowed in. But the ECB’s gun media boss Henry Cowen fixed that, smuggling them through just in time. Fair to say they have barely taken a breath since, soaking in the action from the Bob Stand.

Here’s a nice shot I took of them with the Alvaney Cricket Club flag they packed away for the occasion. It comes with another nice story of their day, willing her a wicket the old fashioned way: by taking a lap. When a punter asked why they were going wild when she trapped Alex Blackwell, Elaine said simply: “That’s my daughter!”

Lovely stuff, lovely people and they’ve produced one hell of a bowler.

Updated

Welcome to day three of the Women's Ashes Test Match!

Another corker of a day here in Sydney, the hottest of the three so far, as we ready ourselves for the second half of this four-day Test. Sure, the game hasn’t flown so far, but don’t let confuse the fact that this is a very good contest between two quality teams.

Not least the last 20 minutes last night, where Katherine Brunt had them hooping around with the second new pink ball. Indeed, she beat the bat six times in 18 deliveries according to CricViz, picking up local skipper Rachael Haynes along the way.

It makes the new partnership vital. Ellyse Perry is on 70 and batting like a dream, surely a lock to finally record her maiden international ton. She has Alyssa Healy with her, the in-form Australian across the ODIs. But still 107 behind on the first innings, and scheduled to bat fourth on a deck that will turn a fair bit come tomorrow afternoon, they can’t afford an early stumble.

By contrast, England will know that if they can’t strike again while the ball is relatively new, they will be the side taking a deficit into the second innings of this match. It makes the first half hour crucial to the trajectory of the day ahead of us.

That’s the state of play with half an hour until we resume. The players in front of me are well into their warm ups, the ground drenched in pink for Jane McGrath Day. It’s a lovely sight, and hopefully the Sydney crowd will again turn out in strong numbers.

As always, this will be a lot more fun if we talk to each other throughout the afternoon, and then Vish when they wake up in England who will take the OBO baton from me. Hit me up in the usual ways, on the email or the tweet.

Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a quick look at the state of play in this series:

One-day internationals (two points for a win)

  • 22 October, Brisbane - Australia won by two wickets 
  • 26 October, Coffs Harbour - Australia won by 75 runs (DLS method)
  • 29 October, Coffs Harbour - England won by 20 runs

Four-day Test match (four points for the win)

  • 9 November, North Sydney – match drawn, points shared

Twenty20 matches (two points for a win)

  • 17 November, North Sydney
  • 19 November, Canberra
  • 21 November, Canberra
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