Geoff Lemon's verdict
Raf Nicholson's report
Updated
Day one report
Our full match report from Taunton will follow, but here’s a quick wires version until then:
Ellyse Perry was again England’s tormentor as Australia moved a step closer towards retaining the Women’s Ashes by closing on 265 for three in the only Test between the sides.
Perry took seven wickets for 22 as Australia clinched a whitewash victory in the one-day part of the multi-format series earlier this month, and the all-rounder’s patient 84 not out with the bat put her side in the box seat at Taunton.
On a sluggish pitch, where scoring became increasingly difficult, there were also half-centuries for Alyssa Healy, Australia captain Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes, who put on an unbroken 105 alongside Perry.
To compound matters for England, Tammy Beaumont was struck on the hand while fielding at short leg and was taken to hospital for an X-ray.
Trailing 6-0 and needing all four points on offer for the Test win to stop Australia retaining the urn, England made a breakthrough in the seventh over after being asked to field when Nicole Bolton was bowled by Katherine Brunt.
Fellow opener Healy, though, found the boundary rope with regularity as she advanced to 58 before being bowled around her legs by Kirstie Gordon, one of two England Test debutants alongside Amy Jones.
Gordon was denied a second wicket in her next over shortly before lunch when England captain Heather Knight dropped her Australian counterpart Lanning on 26, spilling a relatively simple opportunity at short cover.
Lanning eventually reached 57 before becoming the third Australian batter to be bowled when Sophie Ecclestone’s quicker delivery skidded on to the stumps.
Haynes, however, quickly settled into her task, racing to 21 off 26 balls before becoming more watchful alongside Perry, who reached her half-century shortly before the tea interval.
The pair hunkered down in the final session, adding only 62 runs in 33 overs, and were there at the close, with Haynes becoming the fourth Australian to go past 50.
Right, I’m not sure England are going to chat right now - so I’ll leave you with Ellyse Perry. Last time she played a Test, she scored a double-century. She sleeps on 84 not out, and England, who need to win this Test to win the Ashes, have to get rid of her early tomorrow. Thanks for all the messages everyone. Good night!
England, who are waiting for X-ray news on Tammy Beaumont’s thumb, haven’t spoken yet.
Some Breaking News courtesy of both twitter and OBO’s very own twitter: Abhijato.
Zimbabwe have been suspended by the ICC with immediate effect.
BREAKING: Zimbabwe have been suspended by the ICC with immediate effect. Their funding will be suspended, and representative teams from the country will be barred from participating at ICC events. Full report to follow on @ESPNcricinfo
— Liam Brickhill (@Gomorezvidinha) July 18, 2019
A very happy Meg Lanning is talking: “We thought that the wicket would play as it did. England didn’t make it easy for us, they bowled straight lines and to still have two good batters in at the end of the day is crucial.
“It was nice to be able t0 build partnerships in the innings, England bowled well at times. We feel in a really strong position.
“It’s a different style, you need to be able to absorb periods of pressure, and I had to fight my instincts today. It was a different innings from me today but I really enjoyed it. I was keen to have pride in my defence. I really enjoyed the adjustment - it is not a format I’ve had a lot of success in before.
“ In the morning we will carry on for a little bit, there is a bit of weather around but we’ll have to consolidate, first-innings runs are going to be crucial in this match.”
100th over: Australia 265-3 (Haynes 54, Perry 84) England indulge in a bit of time-wasting to ensure they don’t have to bowl another over. Anyway, this one from Ecclestone is smart and on the money. Australia scamper through for three and that’s stumps! The Aussies look happy, and England, who never gave up, look relieved. A slow run-rate - 2. 65 - but the Aussies, ever-patient, are building a dominant position. Rain though, is forecast.
99th over: Australia 262-3 (Haynes 52, Perry 83) .Marsh bowls. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot. Dot. and somewhere within a cheeky little single to add a little dazzle to the afternoon.
I thought At-Ellyse-t you would understand that I love having a good Straw-Perry from the end of the garden!
Tuvic, I hope your family are as tolerant as Australia’s batters...
98th over: Australia 261-3 (Haynes 51, Perry 83) And with a drive through the covers, Perry brings up the hundred partnership off 264 balls (including only one extra.) Ecclestone keeps it tight for the remainder of the over. And spectators’ minds turn to supper. We’re having spaghetti, though I could do with some inspiration to be honest.
A lovely tweet from Pakistan:
@tjaldred it's really great to see these women playing with their full spirit.
— Muhammad Fayyaz Khan (@Fayyazkhan1Khan) July 18, 2019
Looking forward to see more real cricket of women more test cricket of women in the coming days .
I am from Pakistan n we are a cricket loving nation
97th over: Australia 259-3 (Haynes 50, Perry 82) Another maiden from Laura Marsh. Just three overs to go in the day now. Can England make a late breakthrough?
Haynes reaches 50
96th over: Australia 259-3 (Haynes 50, Perry 82) Haynes considers a single, gets a third of the way down the pitch then changes her mind. She bats away four more balls before at last pulling Ecclestone for one. Well played! Off 145 balls, it started quickly but turned into a bit of a dirge. She’s delighted, a huge smile under the helmet.
Tuvic Tuslow writes:
Ecclestone hasn’t been at her best today, but neither has she been jeered. If she was, we would call her Hecklestone! Okay, I’ll show myself out ...
Through the back door and down the garden path Tuvic - and keep your hands off the strawberries at the end of the garden.
95th over: Australia 258-3 (Haynes 49, Perry 82) A four, a four, a palpable four! A flick off the hips by Perry from Marsh. We see Tammy Beaumont looking through the dressing-room glass darkly - that injured thumb is the last thing England need. And Haynes sits once more on 49.
94th over: Australia 251-3 (Haynes 49, Perry 76) The tireless Ecclestone reels in, pony tail swinging. And Haynes is stranded on 49 once more!
OB has evidence of sandwich eating. If the players can eat sandwiches in the field Tanya, so can the umpires!
Updated
93rd over: Australia 251-3 (Haynes 49, Perry 76) Perry watches carefully through the bars of her helmet and turns Marsh off her hip for a single. Oh! And totally against the run of play, Perry is nearly run out as Haynes changes her mind mid-run after Brunt picks up and throws in the covers. If she’d hit, it would have been close.
I’ll just leave this here:
@tjaldred We're doooooooooooooooooomed aren't we? #Ashes
— 🌈Ravi Nair #FBPE #PerfectPorkPie (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2019
Updated
92nd over: Australia 250-3 (Haynes 48, Perry 75) Knight calls it a day on the seamers from both ends - and calls up Ecclestone from the pavilion end. Haynes’ eyes light up and she tip-toes down the pitch and lofts her over mid wicket for four.
OB Jato knows what umpires carry in their pockets.
The umpires carry a clipper (for seam-cutting purposes), a handkerchief, a bandage, a DLS sheet and a cheese sandwich in their backpocket. No, don’t ask me why they need the DLS sheet .
OB - are you sure? Surely, back in day, a packet of fags. And some mints.
Updated
91st over: Australia 244-3 (Haynes 42, Perry 75) I didn’t see a ball of Marsh’s over I’m afraid. But four runs came from it. Australia - unleashed!
90th over: Australia 240-3 (Haynes 42, Perry 71) The Sky swingometer says that Shrubsole is getting more swing in this spell than she did in her last. Perhaps that is why Perry and Haynes are being so watchful. Perhaps it’s the rain that is forecast over the next two days. Perhaps England’s accuracy has dimmed their confidence for the bigger, more audacious strokes. Perry is getting close to the record number of runs scored in a Test before a dismissal
Tat Wood, stretches, and taps on the keyboard:
It’s just gone noon in New England and, after the trouble I had on Sunday explaining why I was reading updates about a game I didn’t entirely understand, I hope nobody asks why I’m so on edge about an hour of not-much-happeningness.
If anyone asks you can draw them into our web....but you’re very loyal to be watching this at lunchtime in New England. I hope there is a pastrami on rye on hand?
89th over: Australia 240-3 (Haynes 42, Perry 71) Haynes scores her first run for 25 balls as Brunt keeps on the money. Is it ungallant to wish they’d get on with it a bit?
88th over: Australia 239-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 71) Shrubsole has located her swing. The umpire cuts a bit of spare thread off the seam. I wonder what other tools an umpire carries in his back pocket?
JP adds to my inbox’s excitement. He has been thinking about the World Cup.
Just some thoughts on the strange failure of England cricket to capitalise on the Women’s World Cup win. My then 8 year old daughter was completely enthused by the whole tournament and signed up with a local club. We watched Australia play in the tournament, and all the Aussie players were unfailingly brilliant to all the kids who came to watch - signing autographs all day, while Meg Lanning came over to my daughter when she was looking a little glum and had a nice little chat.
But there has never been so much as a highlights package of the final or any kind of souvenir publication released. Meanwhile, the KIA superleague team that my daughter started supporting on the back of the world cup is now to be folded in favour of the Hundred. Inexplicable. And such opportunities missed.
JP I think there are lots of female county cricketers and fans who would agree with you. I guess we won’t be able to judge properly on the folly or otherwise of the Hundred for a few years. The good thing is the investment - but I too wonder about the wisdom of doing away with the blossoming Super League. Interesting thoughts about the Final - was there really no glossy publication or DVD released? And I’m so glad your daughter is a fan!
87th over: Australia 239-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 71) Brunt is cheesed off. Sarah Taylor enthuses from behind the stumps “Come on girls”- but it turns out Perry and Haynes, despite the lack of long-form cricket, have concentration to die for. Block. Block. Block. Block.
86th over: Australia 238-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 70) One run off Shrubsole’s over. I do admire her effort. That’s drinks.
And another email - two in ten minutes! Thanks Andrew!
Hi Tanya –after the frantic and emotional World Cup (even once I know South Africa were eliminated), it is nice to have about two months of test cricket to watch/follow OBO where I can be completely neutral and a bit more relaxed- although what price another men’s Ashes classic. I do wish there were more Women’s tests as I do see it as the ultimate in cricket – is there any way that will happen give the numbers of women’s tests seems to be in permanent decline?
Hi Andrew, I agree that it is the pinnacle. And I feel for the players who are desperate to have more of a crack at the longer game. The boards seem to have bet the silver on short-form cricket working for the women and attracting the fans. A very interesting column by Megan Schutt (below) discusses the issues if you fancy a read. I didn’t actually realise that only English and Australian women played Test cricket.
85th over: Australia 237-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 69) Brunt bustles in, but though no runs come off the over, Australia’s batters are untroubled. England have nearly bowled their requisite overs but I’m afraid they’ve still got an hour left to play.
The ever faithful OBO reader Abhijato Sensarma writes:
I‘ve heard excellent things about Robin Smith’s autobiography and will buy it as soon as it reaches the shelves in Kolkata. If what you say about his father is true, my mind turns to a recently-retired legend’s father who behaved similarly - Yograj Singh, father of Yuvraj Singh.
He was an international cricketer himself. Legend has it that he threw away Yuvi’s medals and skates because he wanted his son to solely pursue and excel in cricket. ‘Inhumane’ is the only word which comes to my mind to describe his father’s treatment, but Yuvraj did become the white-ball great for India. When it comes between what he achieved and what was the main well-documented torturous driving force which got him there, I can’t humanely justify anyone suffering like he did irrespective of the results. Alas, this is another moral dilemma when it comes to maximising excellence in sports!
Thanks Abhijato, I didn’t know that about Yuvraj. I think there are many similar stories behind sporting excellence sadly - all the efforts make for very talented players, but perhaps not very happy human beings.
84th over: Australia 237-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 69) The shackles have broken! Perry hits two consecutive boundaries: a cut then a charming cover drive. Shrubsole strays slightly off target. Knight is still very enthusiastic, extolling her fielders with hand claps and bounces at cover.
Updated
83rd over: Australia 229-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 61) Brunt is Shrubsole’s new ball partner the other end. Brunt is so fun to watch, every emotion she feels flashes across her face. And she has a wonderful fast bowler’s physique, all powerful shoulders and backside. Haynes has slowed down markedly at the crease - she now has 41 off 108 balls, and she started off in some style.
82nd over: Australia 228-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 60) And now we take the new ball! England have a slip and Shrubsole is on target. No runs, no wickets. And that’s the fifth maiden in the last seven over.
Updated
81st over: Australia 228-3 (Haynes 41, Perry 60) But England don’t take it... Knight preferring to keep the pressure building with Laura Marsh. Haynes breaks her run-less hiatus via a misfield.
The good news is that there are over 2000 at Taunton today! Hoping to get down there too before the end of the season, maybe (say it quietly) to see Somerset lift the Championship.
We are already at the stage where England are going to struggle to win this match, absent a generous / aggressive declaration; and the way Meg Lanning batted, it didn't look like she had those kinds of intentions on her mind.
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) July 18, 2019
80th over: Australia 226-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 59) Elwiss’ red heels flirt with the spectators as she starts her run-up. It’s another maiden but the drama, could be about to start as the new ball is now available.
79th over: Australia 226-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 59) The pitch, last used on June 8 during that very wet spell during the world Cup, is sloooow. Australia waiting to pounce on the loose balls, happy to watch the others go by.
78th over: Australia 226-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 59) Elswiss again. Hallelujah! A boundary! Perry pulls a short ball and it beats the chasing fielder. Australia building ominously, if slowly.
77th over: Australia 220-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 54) Marsh rolls her arm over. Perry looks calms but cautious. Textbook defensive shot to finish the over - and that’s another maiden. Time to go and make a cuppa if you can.
76th over: Australia 220-3 (Haynes 40, Perry 54) Elwiss gives Ecclestone a rest and we see a most gorgeous dog sitting on a bench in the sun. That’s the lovely thing about Women’s games - it is so relaxed you can bring your dog, your book, your toddler. A good over by Elwiss - a maiden.
75th over: Australia 220-3 (Haynes 37, Perry 53) Marsh replaces Gordon - four off the over. The new ball can be taken in five overs. I think Knight will bite the umpires’ hands off!
74th over: Australia 216-3 (Haynes 37, Perry 53) Ecclestone starts her 21st over of the game. Haynes finds the gap and they knock off four.
In other matters, has anyone read Rob Smyth’s biography of Robin Smith yet? I’ve read the first two chapters which are eye-opening to say the least about Smith’s relationship with his father, whose desire to see his son succeed turn him into a bit of a monster.
Updated
73rd over: Australia 212-3 (Haynes 33, Perry 53) A slight breeze ruffles the trousers of Gordon as she skips in from the River End. Plenty of air and the Aussies knock just two from the overs. Soporific scones anyone?
Brunt whirls her arms around, look at me Skip!
Updated
72nd over: Australia 210-3 (Haynes 32, Perry 52) Knight is still attacking, Ecclestone is bowling with a slip, a short leg and a backward short leg. And Australia watchfully play the ball back. Another maiden.
Updated
71st over: Australia 210-3 (Haynes 32, Perry 52) Haynes spots the chance of easy runs and totters down the pitch to thwack Gordon over mid-wicket for four. That eases the pressure.
Updated
70th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 512 Perry tips Ecclestone for the first runs of the session, Just two off the over including a bit of a misfield from Brunt who ends up flat on her belly.
Katravath, you sent me an email, but it was blank! Do write again if you had things to say.
Updated
69th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) Gordon switches to over the wicket and Haynes swats a bit frustratedly, and then Gordon gets some turn out of the footholes that hits Haynes awkwardly on the pads. What powers of concentration do the Australians have, can they fight against the frustration of this stranglehold England are building? Two maidens in a row to start the evening session.
Updated
68th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) The first ball of the session produces an invigorated appeal from Ecclestone against Perry, but the umpire isn’t interested - the replay shows that it was umpires’s call. The cameras pan back and we see the hills of the Mendips rolling away behind. A maiden.
Tea
67th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) Gordon’s action is quite distinctive. Her arm is high and wide, and she gives it a visible tweak. A maiden, and that’s tea! Australia’s session, with both Lanning and Perry reaching fifty and Haynes looking in no bother at all since she arrived. No great acceleration though... yet.
My son has just brought me a cuppa, I’m going to have a quick drink - see you all in twenty minutes.
Updated
Perry reaches fifty!
66th over: Australia 203-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 51) Shrubsole again, bowling quite wide of the crease. Perry swivels and pulls her to the boundary and that’s her fifty! She raises her bat, little white-blong ponytail poking out of the back of her helmet.
It’s her second fifty in her eighth Test. She’s converted one of those to a hundred. A fifty per cent conversion rate, if that makes England feel any better....
Updated
65th over: Australia 199-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 42) Knight gambles, and throws the ball to Gordon, on Test debut today. Her first ball is a full toss and Perry drives her through the covers for four to tip-toe on the edge of fifty.
64th over: Australia 194-3 (Haynes 26, Perry 42) The brains trust gather at the top of the over - England could do with another breakthrough if possible before tea. But Shrubsole’s first ball is a bit of a loosener and Haynes drives her for four. But the run-rate this session is only just over two and a half.
Updated
63rd over: Australia 190-3 (Haynes 22, Perry 42) I wonder if the ground will be deluged with school kids tomorrow afternoon when the state schools break up for summer? Not a bad crowd even today - at least as far as the TV cameras are showing. Marsh again - Perry and Marsh watch carefully, play defensively.
Updated
62nd over: Australia 189-3 (Haynes 21, Perry 42) Shrubsole again, a better over. Perry plays and misses as Shrubsole keeps on a good length. Good bowling. A maiden. We watch all the Australian coaching in their matching green and gold enjoying the Somerset sunshine.
61st over: Australia 189-3 (Haynes 21, Perry 42) Haynes spots a legside ball from Marsh, gets down one knee and sweeps her behind short leg. The next ball drifts again, this time the other way, and Haynes drives, for another four. Haynes not having to work too hard for her runs at the moment.
60th over: Australia 180-3 (Haynes 13, Perry 41) Knight and Shrubsole have a good chat at the top of her mark. She charges in, Taylor, lithe behind the stumps, helmet on, is standing close. A tidy over from Shrubsole, no dramas.
In case you were wondering the last time the first three wickets in a Women’s Test series were bowled was India v New Zealand in 1995!
59th over: Australia 179-3 (Haynes 13, Perry 40) They’ve just flashed up England’s bowling figures on the telly - Shrubsole has only bowled five overs today - perhaps time for her to come out of pasture - actually here she goes, half-heartedly rolling her arms over in the outfield. Just one run off Marsh’s over.
Updated
58th over: Australia 178-3 (Haynes 13, Perry 39) Ecclestone can’t quire work out what the weather’s doing. She’s in long sleeves, a sleeve-less sweater and sunglasses. Long ponytail flowing characteristically down her back. An uncharacteristic misfield there from Blunt off Perry. And then Haynes tucks in to a shorter ball from Ecclestone, pulling it, hard, to the boundary.
57th over: Australia 171-3 (Haynes 8, Perry 37) Haynes has a high backlift and her bat looks heavy, but it flows smoothly. Just one off Marsh’s over.
56th over: Australia 170-3 (Haynes 8, Perry 36) Haynes sweeps through an empty leg-side field for four, then as Knight rearranges her fielders, has another look around. Ecclestone causing trouble every over at the moment. Oooh, now we get a close-up of the pitch- all sorts of dips and ditches by left-handed Haynes’s feet.
55th over: Australia 165-3 (Haynes 4, Perry 35) The long legged Marsh again. Perry uses her feet, chassez, plie, to drive Marsh for one. That LBW decision last over? It was umpires’s call.
54th over: Australia 158-3 (Haynes 4, Perry 34) A vital wicket for England - Lanning had looked in lovely touch - and so deserved for Ecclestone who has caused lots of trouble since lunch, without reward. Haynes adds to the drama with a four off her first ball, and then Ecclestone roars an lbw appeal. The umpire shakes his head.
Updated
WICKET! Lanning b Ecclestone 57
Lanning is furious, turning on her heel. Ecclestone delighted! Lanning misreads a ball which she tries to cut, misses and it clips the top of off-stump.
Updated
53rd over: Australia 158-2 (Lanning 56, Perry 33) The Taunton sky is cornflower blue with little fluffy clouds resting their heads temporarily above the ground. A careful over from Marsh - just two off it. Do drop me a line and tell me what you’re up to.
52nd over: Australia 158-2 (Lanning 56, Perry 33) And back to young Sophie Ecclestone, who doesn’t seem to be feeling too much pain from the shoulder injury that knocked her off the field this morning. Perry’s bat is lovely and straight, pushing, pushing, forward. A huge appeal for lbw off the last ball but it was outside the line.
51st over: Australia 156-2 (Lanning 55, Perry 32)Thank you Adam and welcome to the second half of the first day of the only Test of the Ashes. Laura Marsh pulls her hair into a bun and takes the ball. Lanning clocks the first, but pulls the second behind square just missing short leg. Eeek!
Lanning to 50!
50th over: Australia 150-2 (Lanning 50, Perry 32) “Cakes” and “Shetland” seem to be Ecclestone’s nicknames, both making sense given her surname and pony tail. Perry cuts the spinner for one, breaking the run of dots that spread over four overs from her end. Lanning’s turn, taking one to cover to raise her half-century. 122 balls it has taken her to raise her bat for the first time in a Test Match. That dropped catch by Knight before lunch is going to hurt an awful lot, I suspect. Drinks!
Thanks for your company throughout the first half of this opening day. I’ll leave you with Tanya Aldred, who will take it from here. Bye for now!
Updated
49th over: Australia 147-2 (Lanning 48, Perry 30) Edge! Not to hand! Gordon does everything right but it flies wide of Taylor, moving Lanning to within a stroke of a half-century. She adds a couple around the corner before keeping out the rest.
48th over: Australia 141-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 30) “My word!” says Sarah Taylor from behind the stumps when Ecclestone, for the umpteenth time since lunch, nearly gets through the gate. It is Perry this time around playing out a maiden, the interrogation including another shout for leg before on the front foot. So close.
47th over: Australia 141-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 30) The 50 stand is raised between the Aussie engine room pair via a Perry single to deep point, the first run for 21 balls. But it’s another over where Gordon is asking all the right questions.
25 fours, in score of 140. Proper cricket.
— Alex Macdonald (@AlMacca84) July 18, 2019
46th over: Australia 140-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 29) Ecclestone to Lanning, who has never looked comfortable against the spin of the left-armers. The taller of the two is looking the part again, completing another accurate maiden. That makes 17 dots in a row, the hosts finally starting building some pressure. A wicket must follow.
45th over: Australia 140-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 29) Gordon is back in the game now too, finding Perry’s inside edge after she dances at her. Slipping through to Taylor, it isn’t far away from the wicketkeeeper with the fastest hands in the game. That’s her best over since lunch - a maiden.
44th over: Australia 140-2 (Lanning 42, Perry 29) Australia are transferring the pressure back on now after absorbing plenty of dot balls in the 45 minutes since lunch. Dropping a fraction short, Lanning is deep in the crease cutting with perfect placement for four more. BIG SHOUT AGAIN for leg before in response! Oooooh, given out on the ground but techology shows it was hitting leg stump halfway up! No DRS in this series means no chance to review. Granted, there have been many leg before shouts today but that was the best of them and Lanning survives.
43rd over: Australia 136-2 (Lanning 38, Perry 29) “Whhhyyyy?” we can hear Kirstie Gordon lament through the stump mic when giving a full toss to Perry, duly put away. She’s bowled some lovely deliveries today but far too many of these.
42nd over: Australia 132-2 (Lanning 38, Perry 25) Top shot from Lanning, breaking up the string of Ecclestone dots with a compact cut shot into the gap just behind point for her sixth boundary. The left-arm spinner bounces straight back with her straighter one, inspiring another yet before shout. This time, though, it is hitting her front pad - with a big stride in - outside the line of the off stump.
41st over: Australia 128-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 25) As it was in the previous Gordon over, the only runs here when Perry has enough time to come down the track, this time grabbing a couple past mid-off. Just 21 taken from from the last ten overs.
Wondering what the little illustrations on the collars of the whites are?
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) July 18, 2019
It's piece of Indigenous artwork to symbolise the growth of the Indigenous game - read more about this initiative from @CricketAus here: https://t.co/Ef2igvhxeR #Ashes pic.twitter.com/wIwAoJP37t
Updated
40th over: Australia 126-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 23) Another top over from Ecclestone to Lanning, who is drawn onto the front foot in defence throughout. Another high-quality maiden. Lanning has faced 93 balls for her 34 but that won’t bother her. She’s been craving the chance to go big in a Test Match.
39th over: Australia 126-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 23) Gordon gives Perry enough flight to step down and clip her through midwicket on the full to move into the 20s. With those runs in the bank, she plays out the rest in watchful defence.
“Charlotte Edwards is essentially advocating giving Perry the classic “sh!t gets wickets” treatment with wide long-hops, which works wonders up and down the land for 3rd XI village sides every Saturday,” says Harkarn Sumal. “It’s the bowling equivalent of Boycott’s “play ‘em from the umpire’s end” suggestion for facing the best bowlers. Bit of a worry that that’s the only suggestion that anyone’s offered, given she smoked us for 200* last time out. Mind you, on that pitch at the North Sydney Oval, she would still likely be batting now, the best part of two years into her innings.”
Yes, I also enjoyed that little segment before lunch. It was all accurate!
38th over: Australia 122-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 19) Another appeal for lbw, Ecclestone this time slipping past Perry’s inside edge. It’s clearly going down the legside and assessed accordingly by the umpire. In at Lanning later in the over, the spinner finds her inside edge on the front foot before pinning her to the crease. Top over.
37th over: Australia 121-2 (Lanning 34, Perry 18) Spin twins, Gordon now getting a chance from the River End. She doesn’t quite find her length but the Australians don’t capitalise. They are helped by a misfield at backward point, Sciver not picking up the spin off one of the worn wickets on the edge of the square.
36th over: Australia 118-2 (Lanning 33, Perry 16) There is plenty going on from our pavilion end, Ecclestone generating enough movement to keep Lanning pushing and prodding. It’s the straight one again that causes the most trouble though, the captain beaten on the inside edge prompting another leg before appeal. It is turned down but the signs are good for England since the interval.
35th over: Australia 118-2 (Lanning 33, Perry 16) Shot! The pull shot has become a major feature of Perry’s game in the last couple of years, leaning back to wallop Brunt in front of the square leg umpire with supreme control. She’s back where she needs to be to finish, in the fourth-stump channel where she beat the Aussie all-rounder earlier in the set.
34th over: Australia 113-2 (Lanning 32, Perry 12) Interesting discussion from Charlotte Edwards on TV, observing how much pressure there must be on Ecclestone who was surely told told over and over that this would be a big turning pitch. To be fair, she’s handling it well so far, giving the ball a chance to bounce with overspin rather than trying to locate that ragging side-spin. That’ll come.
33rd over: Australia 112-2 (Lanning 31, Perry 12) Top start after lunch from Brunt, who I was surprised not to see before the break from that end to partner Kirstie Gordon while she was threatening Lanning. She’s giving Perry nothing. Maiden.
32nd over: Australia 112-2 (Lanning 31, Perry 12) Good news with Ecclestone coming back onto the field having left the field after her 14 ball this morning with an arm injury picked up diving at square leg. She begins this fresh spell with two yorkers at Perry before drifting one away from Perry. They’re up for an ambitious leg before shout on a pad/bat but well outside the line, Perry then taking one to cover. But the fine re-start is undone by a short ball to finish, Lanning leaning back and carving it through point into the gap for four. “England just can’t build that pressure at the moment,” Lottie Edwards laments on TV. That was true of Gordon before lunch as well: plenty of excellent deliveries but too many balls that the experienced Australians could put away.
31st over: Australia 107-2 (Lanning 27, Perry 11) Brunt is hitting the deck hard, Perry taking the first behind square, Lanning defending the rest. Nothing wrong with that set; the sun coming out for the first time today as sends down the final delivery. “She has one of the best pairs of hands in the team,” Charlotte Edwards says of Knight’s dropped catch before lunch. “It has to be due to concentration.”
The players are back on the field. Always start a session with your best bowlers, so Katherine Brunt it is from the River End. Bowling to Perry. PLAY!
“Afternoon Adam, afternoon everyone.” Hello Harkarn Sumal. “Is it okay that I’m frankly terrified by Jess Jonassen being listed to come in a number 9? The Australian batting order is monstrous. That power, the clean hitting, the uncomplicated, clean (but not slogging), simple techniques that they have all down their middle and lower-middle order, that’s where this game is likely to be set up and taken beyond England’s reach over two innings. It also probably gives the top order that confidence to go about their work positively without worrying that what’s to come behind them will fold. There seems so little in the Australian batting set-up, trigger movements and technique that can go awry. It clears the way for players to concentrate on judgement. I have a lot of fear. I can feel the fear. Also, it’s already ragging for our orthodox spinners – heaven knows what it’ll be doing by Sunday. At least Australia doesn’t have a leggie in this side (am I right in thinking the spin options are all orthodox?). I’m sure you try to be neutral when OBO-ing, but you must be so delighted to have this side represent Australia. As Rachael Haynes intimated recently when asked whether women should play more test cricket, the rest of the world has some catching up to do I fear. Yours with growing concern.”
You are right about the depth of Australia’s batting. Jonassen’s 99 on Test debut last time around four years ago was a bit of an outlier, in that, she struggled to make a run in the years since. However, during the ODIs of this comp she was outstanding. England agrees with her with both the ball and the bat. In terms of more Test cricket, take a look at Megan Schutt’s piece overnight.
Healy dominant; England hold their nerve. Striking 12 boundaries in her 58, Healy looked like she was on the cusp of doing something special. But England’s new spinner Kirstie Gordon found her range and after creating a couple of chances against Lanning, slipped by the opener’s front pad with a straight one. The Australian captain should have followed her but Knight put her down just before lunch at extra cover. That could be costly in the context of what will more than likely be a low-scoring affair. Brunt was into the action early as well, castling Bolton (6), who was the first to fall.
Between times, Ecclestone left the field in tears after landing heavily on her right shoulder, but the spinner is expected to bowl after lunch having returned following 20 minutes of treatment. I’ll also be back with you for that middle session in about half an hour. I’ll drop back in here after I’ve had a bite to eat. How are you enjoying this first day? Where are you watching from? Ping me a line.
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LUNCH! Australia 106-2
30th over: Australia 106-2 (Lanning 27, Perry 10) Lanning gets off strike first ball, which is advisable in the final over before lunch. Perry enjoys the full toss that follows, smashing her over mid-off for another easy boundary before taking one to mid-off that gives Lanning three balls to negotiate. She does so well, getting forward to play out the final deliveries of a most eventful session.
29th over: Australia 100-2 (Lanning 26, Perry 5) Not a lot going on at Marsh’s end, Perry timing her behind in classic Perry fashion to bring up Australia’s 100. Back to Gordon. Can she create another chance before they break for lunch?
Lanning will boost her Test average of 17. Hasn't had the best time in the format. But this is only her 4th Test match in 9 years of international cricket. #WomensAshes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) July 18, 2019
A first Test wicket for @kirstiegordon97! 👏👏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2019
She bowls Alyssa Healy round her legs: https://t.co/Zxzay51VVG#ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/CSNo6FszQU
28th over: Australia 96-2 (Lanning 26, Perry 1) KNIGHT DROPS LANNING! Oh, she’ll be gutted with that. Gordon won the false stroke, the England skipper putting down her opposing number at cover. It’s not a tough chance, to her left at waist heigh. She has such a good pair of hands too. What a moment that might be.
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27th over: Australia 95-2 (Lanning 26, Perry 1) Marsh races through at Lanning initially then Perry, who is off the mark with a push to midwicket. Back to the real quiz now, which is Kirstie Gordon vs Meg Lanning.
“As Steve Smith has shown us enough times in India,” writes Tuvic Tuslow, “the only way to stay ahead on a dustbowl is by being agressive. Yes, the opposition might need to drop you six times along the way to allow you to score one of the greatest centuries of all time, but the point remains: gather as many runs as you can, because soon enough you won’t have much time to get them on this pitch either ways.”
Quite right. Healy has played the right way here - early runs will be vital.
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26th over: Australia 91-2 (Lanning 22, Perry 0) Perry gets forward to defend the one remaining delivery in the successful over. “A shout out to Cricket Scotland,” says Mel Jones on TV, “for developing Kirstie Gordon.” England should be able to get four more overs in before the lunch interval.
WICKET! Healy b Gordon 58 (Australia 91-2)
Gordon has her first Test wicket and what a massive one it is, bowling Healy around her front pad! Not the most conventional dismissal, the opener missing a ball on her leg stump when shuffling across. The end of a fine innings but one that could have gone on to define this match had she been there for two more hours.
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25th over: Australia 91-1 (Healy 58, Lanning 22) With 25 minutes until lunch, veteran tweaker Laura Marsh gets her first chance, replacing Sciver at the River End. She wasn’t expected to play here but with the track so dry, the home side went with her as a third specialist spinning option. She’s too short to begin to the chagrin of Beaumont at short leg, Healy’s pull smashing into his hand. The opener keeps the strike with a rare single for her today, moving to 58 from 76 balls.
24th over: Australia 88-1 (Healy 56, Lanning 21) BIG SHOUT for lbw turned down! After twice going beyond Lanning’s outside edge in her previous over, Gordon beats her on the inside edge this time. Technology (which isn’t available to the players for review) confirms that it is another good decision, the ball sliding down the legside. There’s nearly a bat-pad from the next ball too; the ball could easily have landed with Beaumont at short leg. But Lanning is savvy enough to put away a lesser delivery later in the set to let the pressure off, carving it off the back foot through cover. She’s into the 20s but Gordon is now very much in the game.
23rd over: Australia 84-1 (Healy 56, Lanning 17) Sciver is following her pattern from the Canterbury ODI, finding her groove after some nervous early offerings, now making it tough to hit her off the square. Has an important role to play.
Word from the England camp on Ecclestone is that she landed on right shoulder in that dive - she is sore and bruised. Because it is an internal injury, she won’t be permitted to bowl for the time she was off the field, which was about 20 mintues. rwhen she dived. Sore and bruised. Internal injury so she can’t bowl for
22nd over: Australia 82-1 (Healy 55, Lanning 16) So close! Gordon sends down a beauty at Lanning, just beating her outside edge from around the wicket. There’s a loud noise so they are up in the appeal but it was bat on pad rather than ball. Good decision. The tweaker beats her again to finish with one that really turns off this first morning surface. In another piece of good news for England as the over comes to a close, Sophie Ecclestone is back on the field. They hosts need something.
“’That is Healy’s first Test half-century.’” says OB Jato. “This statement literally defines everything wrong with women’s Test cricket right now!”
21st over: Australia 81-1 (Healy 54, Lanning 16) Nice fightback from Sciver, who gives Lanning nothing and gets through a rare maiden. There’s a generous response for local Anya Shrubsole who makes a fine diving stop to her left at point.
Alyssa Healy brings up her maiden Test fifty (61 BF, 11x4).
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) July 18, 2019
Healy is the first Australian opener to make a half-century in a women's Test since Alex Blackwell v England at Worcester in 2009 (technically only six matches ago for AUS women).#ENGvAUS #Ashes
Alyssa Healy is on fire in this Ashes test. Brilliant to watch, scoring quickly.
— Urthboy (@urthboy) July 18, 2019
Healy to 50!
20th over: Australia 81-1 (Healy 54, Lanning 16) You can’t give Healy a full toss in this mood and you definitely can’t give her two in an over. After a tidy start from Gordon the young spinner loses here way here. Healy moves to 50 from 61 deliveries from the first of those bas balls, lifting her over midwicket for her 11th fours. That makes just six runs in non-boundaries on the opening morning of a Test. Have that. She takes the second fully over mid-on to make it 12. Easy peasy.
19th over: Australia 73-1 (Healy 46, Lanning 16) Sciver has to get into the game after a poor first couple of overs. Lanning takes her down the ground for a couple but the all-rounder then finds her mark. She was very good at Canterbury picking up Healy, Perry and Lanning, which is easy to forget given the carnage that ensued there after the lunch break.
18th over: Australia 71-1 (Healy 46, Lanning 14) Good start this from Gordon, who bowls with a bit of extra pace than Ecclestone from her lower trajectory. She’s good enough to locate Lanning’s inside edge, spitting out behind square. If Ecclestone is in strife, the Scotish import will have loads of work to do today.
17th over: Australia 69-1 (Healy 45, Lanning 13) Sciver is struggling but isn’t helped by Healy’s class, deflecting her perfectly down to third man for yet another boundary. She doesn’t help herself to finish, though, a half volley given the treatment by Lanning. These two are motoring, striking 40 runs in the ten overs they’ve been out there together, dealing almost exclusively in boundaries.
16th over: Australia 60-1 (Healy 40, Lanning 9) Lanning helped an Ecclestone full toss on its way before she went off. How often has a bowler sent down their first over in Test cricket completing the set of another? That’s what Gordon is tasked with doing, getting out of it with a nerveless four dots to the Aussie skipper. I’m afraid to report that Brunt is also hobbling around between overs, looking to favour that right ankle she hurt when celebrating a wicket at Leicester. Uh oh.
Ecclestone leaves the ground injured
Bowling through tears, Ecclestone is off the ground after two deliveries. The right arm is causing her an enormous amount of pain. Kirstie Gordon, on debut, will complete the over. Disastrous for England if they’ve lost their best spinner.
15th over: Australia 56-1 (Healy 40, Lanning 5) Good news: Ecclestone is staying out there. Four balls remaining in the Sciver over, on to replace Brunt, and she directs the first of those down the legside for four byes. Not good. Before the break, Healy already helped herself to a ninth boundary with that aforementioned clip past square leg. England have a real problem on their hands here.
Ecclestone hurt; drinks taken
Two balls into the 15th over, drinks are called with Ecclestone getting looked at by the medical staff after diving unsucessfully to stop a Healy clip through square leg. She hit the deck and reached for her shoulder. She looks okay. Let’s hope so.
14th over: Australia 47-1 (Healy 36, Lanning 4) Ecclestone has found her range immediately, forcing Healy forward from the get-go. She beats her on the inside edge half way through the over prompting a loud lbw shout but from the bowler only. But missing her length to finish, Healy rocks back to cut another four. They go upstairs to confirm that Marsh didn’t keep it in, the fielder’s leg on the sponge.
13th over: Australia 43-1 (Healy 32, Lanning 4) Shot! After watching 14 dot balls, Meg Lanning gets off the mark with a beautifully timed push off the back foot, racing down to the rope for four. Otherwise, Brunt is right where she needs to be, asking the right questions of the Australian captain.
12th over: Australia 39-1 (Healy 32, Lanning 0) Excellent first over from Ecclestone, spin for the first time in the Test in this 12th over. The tall left-arm tweaker, who was so impressive in her Test debut at Sydney two years ago, beats Healy first up with a full delivery that did plenty, nicely pouched by Taylor. She’s giving it plenty of air, Healy defending the 20-year-old with full respect. She tries to score from the final delivery, uppishly to cover, but doesn’t beat the field. I’ve been arguing that Ecclestone is already the best spinner in the world. With England needing a win in this to stay alive, this is a huge four days for her.
Ecclestone beats Healy first ball of her day. Plenty of turn. #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/bQCYoOGvXH
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) July 18, 2019
11th over: Australia 39-1 (Healy 32, Lanning 0) I tell you what, Healy is on century-in-a-session pace here, taking on Brunt given the slightest width, slapping her through backward point for seventh boundary. Ooooooh, Brunt bites back with a beauty later in the set, once again able to cut past the inside edge; just over the woodwork. Healy finishes getting a long way forward to defend. Fantastic contest.
10th over: Australia 34-1 (Healy 27, Lanning 0) Shrubsole to the rampaging Healy and she would have another boundary here if not for Gordon’s excellent diving stop at mid-off. The former Scotland international, on Test debut today, is a very impressive all-round cricketer. We’ll see her at the bowling crease very soon.
GET IN! @KBrunt26 makes the breakthrough
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2019
Scorecard >>> https://t.co/DE6KSIXZan#ENGvAUS #GoBoldly pic.twitter.com/NEkbRHPYCn
9th over: Australia 33-1 (Healy 26, Lanning 0) Brunt to Lanning is box office. It is quite remarkable that the Australian captain, the greatest batter of all time in the women’s 50-over format, averages 17 in her four Tests and has never reached 50. She’s leaving, leaving, leaving then defending here. When a ball arrives on leg stump to finish, she picks out midwicket. Maiden it is. England must get her early.
“Proposal off the top of my head,” writes Abhijato Sensarma. “Authorities want T20s and women cricketers want Tests, while purists are most comfortable with the best of both worlds - ODIs. But why can’t we have the best of three worlds by combining all three formats together to create a new one? In the true spirit of Men’s WC knockouts, including the part of revenue-generation, have ‘Two Day Cricket’ ... On the first day, play 20 overs each; return the next day, and play a further 20 overs each. Four innings, ten wickets per innings, and endless fun all long (until the ODI-esque limit of 80 overs is reached, of course)!”
I like most out-of-the-box thinking but I’d rather than just gave them more Tests.
8th over: Australia 33-1 (Healy 26, Lanning 0) It doesn’t bother Healy that she has lost her opening partner, lashing the first ball of Shrubsole’s new over through cover for her fifth boundary. Oh, make that six! A gorgeous square drive the best of the lot so far. She’s 26 from 28 balls half an hour into a Test. As you do!
WICKET! Bolton b Brunt 6 (Australia 25-1)
The plan early on in any Test Match is to hit the top of off and that’s precisely what Brunt has done, shaping away just enough to evade the opener’s outside edge. Another single-digit return for the West Australian. And in walks Lanning.
7th over: Australia 25-1 (Healy 18)
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6th over: Australia 19-0 (Healy 17, Bolton 1) This is an excellent start from Healy, slapping a wider Shrubsole delivery with perfect timing over backward point for four. To finish, an even better shot along the carpet the other side of point for another boundary.
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5th over: Australia 11-0 (Healy 9, Bolton 1) Shot. Healy said that she wouldn’t be curtailing her natural instints in Test cricket and it shows when Brunt goes short, the Australian taking her on with a punishing pull over midwicket. I like this elevation. If she’s there at tea, for instance, she’ll be well beyond 100.
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4th over: Australia 6-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 1) Shrubsole is getting some lovely hoop early on, Bolton playing her very carefully. The Australian opener isn’t in great nick but she four years ago, when making her Test debut, got through some very tough sessions against the new ball from these two.
3rd over: Australia 6-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 1) Brunt is on top, giving Bolton little and winning an early play and miss. After getting off the mark with a single to cover it’s Healy’s turn, Brunt repeating the first ball of the match to finish, jagging back off the seam to again cut her in half. Dangerous start this from the Barnsley Express.
2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 0) Shrubsole running away from us at the pavilion end, Bolton defending and leaving studiously. Just as there was from the river end, the carry is there through to Sarah Taylor. The left-hander gets Australia off the mark via a leg bye, giving Healy one chance from the final ball of the over and she uses it well to drive a classy boundary through cover for four.
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1st over: Australia 0-0 (Healy 0, Bolton 0) Brunt cuts Healy in half with the first ball of the Test! A beauty, jagging back off the seam. The opener gets into her groove as the over continues, leaving and defending well. Nice carry from Brunt, which is encouraging. Two years ago, the two balls in Schutt’s first over didn’t make it through to the wicketkeeper the track was so dead. Fingers crossed.
First ball of the match, Brunt cuts Healy in half. Misses everything. This will almost certainly be the Barnsley Express’ final Test Match. Expect enthusiasm. #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/nY3xr4HMED
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) July 18, 2019
Oh, scrap that. Would you believe, there is a hole on the ground at backward point that the umpires want covered up by the groundsman. Odd. Try again: PLAY!
Katherine Brunt has the ball in her hand. This will almost certainly be her final Test Match for England. What a warrior she has been. Healy is on strike. PLAY!
Jerusalem is playing. The umpires are making their way to the middle, followed by Heather Knight and her team. The Australian openers, Nicole Bolton and Alyssa Healy, follow. The latter is at the top of the list for the first time in Test Match.
WHAT A MOMENT!
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@SouthernStars) July 18, 2019
Our three Test debutantes, Ashleigh Gardner, Tayla Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/84uevSL5Ty
England: Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Georgia Elwiss, Nat Sciver, Sarah Taylor (wk), Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Laura Marsh, Sophie Ecclestone, Kirstie Gordon.
Australia: Nicole Bolton, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney, Ash Gardner, Sophie Molineux, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminick.
Let’s be real: it is a dreadful toss to loss if this goes all Ciderabad. But at least England’s spinners already have something to work with out there.
Australia has won the toss and will bat
Australia go with an extra bat, leaving out the leggie Wareham. England are playing three specialist spinners, overlooking seamer Cross. Full XIs shortly.
Actually, read this before the toss. Megan Schutt has views and isn’t afraid to voice them. Her latest column spells out why it is plainly wrong that only Australian and English women get to play Tests and how it isn’t fair that they only get to do so every other year. Crucially, she also comes with ideas for the future.
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Welcome to the Women's Ashes Test!
Good morning from Taunton! We are roughly ten minutes from the toss and I come with news off the top. Three Australians are winning their baggy greens today: Ash Gardner, Tayla Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux. For England, Amy Jones and Kirstie Gordon are set to make their Test Match bows.
For the visitors, it was a brilliant touch having Dan Christian on deck to present Gardner with the famous cap. Of course, the two of them captained the teams that toured England last summer to mark 150 years since the trailblazing Indigenous Australians visited this country to play in 1868. Mitch Starc welcomed Vlaeminck, a fellow speedster, to the fold while Belinda Clark, the interim boss of high performance and former dominant skipper, gave the speech for Molineux.
The latter, a big turner of the ball with her left-arm orthodox, will like the look of the pitch. There has been some debate as to what constitutes a used surface, but the facts are that it was last played on for the Afghanistan vs New Zealand World Cup game on 8 June. There are some very helpful footmarks on show outside the off-stump for left-handers at the River End. We’ll see how that all plays out.
England do need a result well inside the four days with rain forecast tomorrow. A draw is enough for Australia to retain the trophy having swept the ODIs three-zip a couple of weeks ago, the third in spectacular fashion when Ellyse Perry took 7/22.
I’ll be back with the formal teams and toss shortly. I’m looking forward to your company throughout the day - and week - in the usual way. Do drop me a line.
Lovely touch with Dan Christian presenting Ash Gardner’s baggy green. Tayla Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux are also debuting, receiving their caps from Mitch Starc and Belinda Clark. Nicely done. #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/kAszvXimhy
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) July 18, 2019
