England’s Women remained in an upbeat mood despite the abandonment of their final Ashes one-day international at Worcester on Sunday.
The main action of the day at New Road was the ground staff emptying buckets of water on to the outfield as constant rain prevented a ball from being bowled. The one-day series counts towards the ICC Women’s Championship, which decides World Cup participation. This means that a reserve day was available, something which both sides were thankful for and they will now do battle on Monday, weather permitting.
“Both teams ideally want to play the full overs rather than starting today and finishing tomorrow,” said the England seamer Kate Cross. “I don’t think anyone’s played a game of cricket that way before. That will give both teams the same conditions and make it a fairer game.”
England’s three-pronged pace attack have much to prove in this final game. At Taunton, where England claimed a four-wicket victory, they were accurate and offered very little width. Australia changed their plan of attack at Bristol and were aggressive from the off, forcing England to alter their lines and, crucially, their width.
Cross was one of the breakthrough stars of the last Ashes series. With a rhythmic run-up and a smooth action, she generated pace and bowled well with red and white ball. She also starred in the early season when she claimed eight wickets in a men’s Lancashire League game for Heywood.
Despite dismissing Meg Lanning cheaply in the first game, she has lacked the penetration she had previously. England’s figures appear economical but they have struggled to claim wickets. Cross, who has been working on her action, has found it difficult to make regular inroads.
“I’ve been working on my action for about 12 months now,” she said. “I’ve done a bit of work on my front arm but I’m not sure how that’s coming out. I’ve done a bit of fine tuning with it, just to gain some more pace.”
England’s aggressive approach of attacking with three pace bowlers worked well in the first one-day international but they floundered in the second,. They were not helped by an Australian captain with a point to prove. Lanning provided a masterclass in how to build an innings. She was well supported by her top order, who began aggressively, and the lower order were selfless in their batting. Her bowlers did what England’s could not. They bowled full and straight, restricting England – a team who often get trapped on the front foot – and ultimately marching to a 63-run victory.
“We didn’t bowl well enough,” Cross admitted. “We gave them too many four balls and gave away a lot of pressure at crucial times. You can’t afford to be doing that when you’ve got Ellyse Perry and Lanning in. We didn’t turn up on Thursday and the Australians did.”
England’s batsmen will also be looking to improve on their performance at Bristol. Lanning’s innings provided the model in how to convert a start into a big score. England have too often got starts and let them slip.
Sarah Taylor, easily the most aesthetic and natural batsman in the squad, has made good starts in the last two games. However well the Australian’s have bowled, she has looked at ease and a player with her ability should be regularly converting these starts into big scores. Australia have targeted Taylor and Charlotte Edwards, just as England have targeted Lanning.
“Lanning is difficult to bowl to – you have a very small margin for error,” Cross said. “A lot of the girls, certainly Katherine Brunt, are up for that challenge tomorrow.”
