Right, that’s it from us here. Credit to England for digging deep and getting on the board for the first time this series. It ensures the series is still alive, and that victory in the Test match (worth four points) will take them into the lead as they come into it trailing by two. With 10 points still up for grabs – each of the three T20is are worth two, like the ODIs – it’s all to play for.
The Guardian will have live OBO coverage of the Test from North Sydney Oval, starting November 9th. See you then!
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ENGLAND WIN BY 20 RUNS (DLS)!
48th over: Australia 267-9 (McGrath 17, Schutt 6) A boundary to finish but it’s too little too late. England are on the board in the Ashes. Victory sees them head into the four-point Test match trailing by just two points.
An outstanding fightback from England, who were up against it when Alyssa Healy’s opening assault got Australia off to the perfect start. She was shelled on four by Fran Wilson, before going on to make a run-a-ball 71. That seemed to have done the trick. England looked bereft of ideas, as Bolton cracked on to a half-century of her own. But some smart bowling and pro-active captaincy from Heather Knight wrestled things backs, bit by bit. Australia were 159 for one but fell in a heap – 206 for six when Ash Garnder departed in the 41st over. Alex Hartley takes the biscuit with three for 45, but it was Nat Sciver’s two for 24 from eight overs, along with Jenny Gunn’s two for 59 that helped England keep their cool in the middle overs.
4-2 to Australia after the ODIs...
WICKET! Wellington st Taylor b Gunn 0 (Australia 251-9)
Teach me, Sarah Taylor. Ridiculous hands. A short window to whip the bails off as Wellington’s back foot comes off the ground. Big enough for Taylor to do what she does best.
WICKET! Blackwell c Sciver b Gunn 37 (Australia 249-8)
Gunn’s first wicket comes at the death as Australia go down swinging. Blackwell attempts a slog sweep, with her side needing big hits and snookers to get over the line. Sciver skips along the outfield to take the catch. 29 needed from 3...
47th over: Australia 247-7 (Blackwell 36, McGrath 15) After faffing about with dabs and sweeps, McGrath decides to hit a forceful shot through the off side and forces Heather Knight to misfield at extra cover. Four to score but nowhere near enough to give England anything to worry about. Australia require 31 from the last six balls...
46th over: Australia 240-7 (Blackwell 33, McGrath 11) Even the full tosses are only going for one. McGrath might have been better served going over the off side as there is no one out marshalling that boundary. Everyone (within reason) is out on the money-making side, where both these right-handers are trying to pepper. No dice. 38 needed from 12...
45th over: Australia 234-7 (Blackwell 30, McGrath 8) This is a pretty special comeback from England. Cutters and slower balls have done the trick, as Shrusbole upholds that attack with more variety than a bag of Revels. 49 needed from the final three overs...
44th over: Australia 230-7 (Blackwell 28, McGrath 6) Just six runs taken from the over and it nearly ends in a run out. Gunn swoops on a tip into the leg side, gathers and turns to throw at the nonstriker’s end. Out if she hits, even with Blackwell’s dive, but she’s wide by a tick. With no boundary in the over, the run rate strikes 12...
43rd over: Australia 224-7 (Blackwell 25, McGrath 3) Shrubsole back into the attack and it’s like she never left. Three runs off the first five balls means a big shot is needed... and Blackwell provides it, dropping to one knee and sweeping a length ball around to fine leg for four. 54 needed from 30...
42nd over: Australia 217-7 (Blackwell 20, McGrath 1) Pressure valve taking the strain just before Jonassen uses her feet to hit over the top and straight for a one-bounce four. The ball after, Hartley corrects her line and gets immediate results. 61 from 36 required..
WICKET! Jonassen c & b Hartley 6 (Australia 216-7)
Quality from Hartley! Pace off the ball and turn catches Jonassen unawares and a leading edge is plinked back to Hartley, who gets her third wicket of the innings.
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41st over: Australia 209-6 (Blackwell, Jonassen 1)
Jonassen gets off the mark with a clamp down on a yorker from Sciver, who has dragged England back into contention with her frugality. A tick under 10-an-over needed for Australia...
WICKET! Garnder c Ecclestone b Sciver (Australia 206-6)
Garnder snatches at one and skies a cutter from Sciver! No distance at all and the 18-year-old Sophie Ecclestone is as cool as you like at mid off, taking the ball above her eyes to complete the dismissal. Jess Jonassen moves up, too, in with 73 needed from 46...
40th over: Australia 205-5 (Blackwell 15, Garnder 3) Gardner off the mark with a well-struck two to midwicket. It would have been four but fine work between Sciver and Brunt saves two. Gunn toys with Garnder for the rest, taking all the pace off the ball leaving Garnder to swing and hoik in vain. Australia, needing 73 from 48, are now behind on DLS...
39th over: Australia 200-5 (Blackwell 13, Gardner 0) How much did England learn from that Garnder special in Brisbane? Don’t bowl at her legs, basically. Her two sixes, both hit well, came away over square leg, as she was able to swing across with the line of the ball angling into her. Cheap and easy three on offer as Sciver goes down leg for wides. 83 needed off 54...
WICKET! Haynes c Brunt b Sciver 9 (England 194-4)
HUGE! Rachael Haynes sets herself and tries to find the fairway... instead, Brunt steadies at deep square leg and takes the catch. Here we go! Garnder in with 84 needed from 59.
38th over: Australia 194-4 (Haynes 9, Blackwell 12)
Jenny Gunn back in and immediately sticking to her field. When she does veer, with a bit of movement away, Blackwell cuts delicately to beat third man, who started up in the circle. Good running from these two ensure that eight is taken from those six. It’s not enough in the grand scheme of things. Surely – surely – Ashleigh Gardner has to be given a go up the order...
37th over: Australia 186-4 (Haynes 7, Blackwell 6) Steady as Sciver goes. Little to get away as the run rate required reads “8.36”.
36th over: Australia 181-4 (Haynes 6, Blackwell 2) Not just the first run in 13 deliveries as Blakwell scampers a single with a sweep to fine leg, but Haynes then uses her feet to crack a four over the top and down the ground.
35th over: Australia 174-4 (Haynes 1, Blackwell 0) Knight ringing the changes as Nat Sciver comes back into the attack, cramping the left-handed Haynes for room with a steady stump-to-stump line from over the wicket, backed up by strong presence in the ring. And that, my friends, is back-to-back maidens! Cracking effort from England, who looked lost about half-an-hour ago.
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34th over: Australia 174-4 (Haynes 1, Blackwell 0) From 159-1 to 174-4. That’s quite a collapse. Anyway, up steps Alex Blackwell, 250 games up and another match-winning hand to play. 104 needed from 84...
WICKET! Villani c Winfield b Hartley 8 (Australia 174-4)
What was that?! Alex Hartley into the attack and, first ball, Villani hits to the only fielder down the ground!
33rd over: Australia 174-3 (Villani 8, Haynes 1) Tip and run to mid off looks foolish but Perry survives with a dive and an off-target throw from Gunn, who had gathered first-time. She doesn’t make it out the over though. A big scalp.
WICKET! Perry c Gunn b Shrubsole 23 (Australia 172-3)
Pace off the ball does it again! Perry is far too early on a lofted drive. Gunn, at mid off, has to dive forward as the ball dies on its way to her. 106 needed from 93 and the Austrlaia captain Rachael Haynes comes out to the crease, fresh from her 89* in the second ODI...
32nd over: Australia 170-2 (Perry 21, Villani 6) It’s been a decent second spell so far from Ecclestone, who almost yorks Perry, who is itching to get down the track. So is Villani, who manages to get under another full delivery. This time, she gets distance, beating long off to the straight boundary.
31st over: Australia 163-2 (Perry 20, Villani 1) That pressure almost tells as new batsman Villani hits high and not very far over extra cover. Shrubsole is the bowler, by the way, as Knight looks to pick on the insecurity of two new heads at the crease. Perry keeps hers, running a couple own to third man.
30th over: Australia 160-2 (Perry 18, Villani 0) So then... 18 overs left, 118 to get. Australia bat deep, of course, but England need to maintain this pressure. There are a few mistakes waiting to be exploited in this batting card...
WICKET! Bolton c Winfield b Ecclestone 62 (159-2)
Now then... Bolton, for some reason, tries to go big down the ground when she’s had most of her success square of the wicket. Winfield, running to the edge of the 30-yard-circle, doesn’t have too much to think about as she takes a simple catch.
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29th over: Australia 156-1 (Bolton 62, Perry 14) That big shot has come and Perry, finally, feels one out of the screws. Brunt bowls a slower ball and Perry swings hard and through the ball, over midwicket for four. The over actually started with a review as Taylor, standing up, whips the bails off in a flash. Not out by a long shot but at least we get a few replays of a nifty bit of keeping. Anwyay, another slower ball is pumped to the boundary – this time square leg and off the bat of Nicole Bolton. Just put some heat on it and knock ‘em down, Brunty...
That is a shocking stat, given that England's bowling has traditionally been their strength. #womensAshes pic.twitter.com/mrVMIQdblo
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) October 29, 2017
28th over: Australia 146-1 (Bolton 58, Perry 9) Ecclestone back into the attack. Immediately, there’s a whiff of a fume of a chance as Bolton advances, loses her footing and plinks one in the air in the direction of Hartley at square leg. Survives as it falls short and even manages a single. When Bolton is back on strike, she flips her hands and reverse sweeps with all the flexibility of a Lego figurine doused in concerete. Still gets four behind square, mind.
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27th over: Australia 140-1 (Bolton 53, Perry 8) The require run rate has ticked above 6.5 by the way. Brunt knows Perry is going to play her “properly”, as it were, so the field is bang on, with little to work with through the cover or mid on. Big shot coming?
26th over: Australia 137-1 (Bolton 51, Perry 7) Perry picks up her first boundary in style. Hartley goes flat and straight and so does Australia’s premier allrounder: elbow to the sky, foot to the ball, four down the ground.
FIFTY FOR BOLTON!
25th over: Australia 133-1 (Bolton 50, Perry 3) Knight turns to Brunt with new bat Perry on strike. Immediately, there’s something there: Perry getting away with a single to square leg as one moves in and catches the inside edge of the right-hander’s bat. The change of strike allows Bolton to punch Brunt over midwicket for her 11th ODI half-century. Comparitively, she’s taken her time – 70 balls, 38 dots – but she did her bit in assisting Healy early on and is now trying to kick things on herself. Five fours so far...
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24th over: Australia 126-1 (Bolton 46, Perry 1) Bolton’s suddenly got a bit antsy. Perhaps she feels she needs to be the aggressor now that Healy is gone. But it’s a cap that doesn’t suit her well, as evidence by an attempted thump down the ground that barely makes it out of the inner ring. Lauren Winfield, chasing in from deep, can’t get to the chance and is lucky not to been sconned by the ball as it kicks off the turf in front of her.
Final:
— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) October 29, 2017
Healy 71, 1 catch, 1 stumping.
Starc: 8-73.#WomensAshes #SheffieldShield
23rd over: Australia 122-1 (Bolton 43, Perry 0) ANOTHER DROP! Tricky again but Gunn’s a good enough fielder to take that: reaching to her right at midwicket as Bolton, for a second-time, is dropped in that region. Reprieved on 24 and then on 40.
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22nd over: Australia 118-1 (Bolton, Perry 0) Mark Taylor on commentary wonders aloud if Healy should have kept that big shot in the bag. It’s a comment drenched in hindsight, but he has a point. Bolton had started the over with a couple of fours. Plenty had been done.
WICKET! Healy c Brunt b Hartley 71 (Australia 118-1)
Deserved from Hartley and a fine knock from Healy comes to an end. The pressure tells as the keeper-bat, who has had things her own way since being dropped on four, tries to force one high and over wide mid on. Instead, she finds Katherine Brunt, bounding and sliding in from deep midwicket, who takes a fine catch.
21st over: Australia 108-0 (Healy 70, Bolton 30) Good from Sciver. Her variations are finding a bit of something in the pitch. It’s not huge, but it’s a bit of turn here and a touch of bounce there. Bolton nearly nicks behind as she follows an off-cutter off the pitch.
20th over: Australia 106-0 (Healy 69, Bolton 29) It’s a feather in Hartley’s cap that both are trying to walk all over the crease to try and get here away. As a result, LBW’s in play. A bit of turn squares up Healy, who then walks right across her stumps and just gets an under-edge down to fine leg to keep that dismissal at bay.
Alyssa Healy now has the highest ODI score by an Australian keeper, beating Jess Cameron's 68 vs NZ at Queenstown in 2010. #womensashes
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 29, 2017
19th over: Australia 101-0 (Healy 66, Bolton 27) Hundred up for no damage. Australia romping home as it stands and look like they’re heading into the Test match with a hand already on the Ashes. A false shot from Healy results in a leading edge just short of point.
Super stuff from Bolton and Healy to bring up a century partnership! #WomensAshes #BeatEngland pic.twitter.com/JZIdYNCr4S
— Australia Women 🏏 (@SouthernStars) October 29, 2017
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18th over: Australia 98-0 (Healy 65, Bolton 25) A second drop! This time it’s Nat Sciver at midwicket and it comes at the end of a fine over from Alex Hartley. With the pressure ramping up on Nicole Bolton, she thwacks across the line. Sciver picks it up early, moving sharply to her right and getting both hands to the ball. However, it’s too powerfully hit and it breaks through her hands for a single. A life for Bolton on 24...
17th over: Australia 95-0 (Healy 65, Bolton 24) Nat Sciver, seamers and cutters in the bag, comes into the attack for the first time today. She’s usually good for a wicket at a time like this. Bolton works a couple and keeps England interested with a scratchy looking drive that, at another time, might have found hands in the ring...
Rain due to hit Coffs again soon. Won't help England if Australia are without loss and it is beyond 20 overs. #WomensAshes
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 29, 2017
16th over: Australia 92-0 (Healy 64, Bolton 22) Ecclestone’s 13-run second over means she makes way for fellow slow southpaw Alex Hartley. These two batsmen exchange the strike and eye up a first hundred opening stand of the summer after the second ODI’s 98...
15th over: Australia 87-0 (Healy 63, Bolton 18) Tainted Love on the jukebox at Coffs Harbour after Gunn wrestles back her economy rate with a useful over that just goes for one run (a wide, no less).
Imagine Alyssa Healy and Mitch Starc at dinner tonight.
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) October 29, 2017
“How was your day?”
“Took a 7-fer. Yours?”
“Brilliant stumping, catch and fifty.”
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14th over: Australia 86-0 (Healy 63, Bolton 18) Milestone in the bag, Healy starts to unwind. A charge and dab to Ecclestone (around the wicket) beats Alex Hartley in a race to third man. The very next ball, she drives uppishly and deliberately over mid on for another boundary. Two deliveries later and we have a contender for shot of the series so far: inside out, checked drive, over extra cover. Teach me. A swiped single to midwicket takes Healy to her ODI career-best...
HEALY PICKS UP HER 4TH ODI FIFTY
13th over: Australia 73-0 (Healy 50, Bolton 18) A loose shot from Healy, as an inside edge squirts away to square leg, but it’s consecutive half-centuries for the keeper-bat, who is making that opening spot her own. The digits: 44 deliveries, nine fours.
12th over: Ausrtalia 71-0 (Bolton 17, Healy 48) Tall left-armer Sophie Ecclestone takes over from Shrubsole, whose first five overs returned 0-15. A full toss to start isn’t ideal, but Healy keeps it down to Wyatt stationed right on the square leg rope. When Ecclestone drifts one down leg, Healy cashes in: down on one knee, sweeping hard and fine for four. For a moment, the scoreboard suggests that it’s her fifty. Bolton comes down, they shake hands and then watch on as the number ticks back to “48”. A single takes Healy a step closer.
11th over: Australia 63-0 (Healy 43, Bolton 15) The value of Jenny Gunn is that she doesn’t really go for many. But on this pitch, and with Healy in this form, her margins for error are very small. As such, a ping to midwicket from a ball that looked fairly on the money gets Healy for more. A second half-century in as many ODIs in the offing...
10th over: Australia 55-0 (Healy 38, Bolton 14) With the loss of two overs, the first Power Play is done after nine, so we’re into the second phase here, with only four fielders needed in the circle. One of them, sub-fielder Danni Wyatt, misses a golden opportunity to make the breakthrough. Bolton tips and runs straight to the fielder, having missed out on a few strikes already, and gives up the goose halfway down. Wyatt, however, can’t find the stumps at the nonstriker’s end. Bolton makes it to 14... Healy finishes the over with a hoik to midwicket for a couple.
9th over: Australia 52-0 (Healy 36, Bolton 13) The fifty partnership up in controlled fashion. Bolton brings up the milestone with a four around the corner, picked up off the pads, to take her into double-figures.
Meanwhile, in the Sheffield Shield...
That's 7 for Mitchell Starc. He'll be a menace for England with the pink ball in Adelaide #SheffieldShield
— Andrew Wu (@wutube) October 29, 2017
8th over: Australia 46-0 (Healy 36, Bolton 8) England bowlers queing up to bowl at Bolton, for the sake of their figures. That being said, she’s not doing much wrong. Shrubsole keeps her in check before a nice looking drive down the ground allows Bolton to pinch the strike.
Dropped on four, coming to the fore:
Alyssa Healy picks up where she left off before the rain delay!
— Australia Women 🏏 (@SouthernStars) October 29, 2017
Live on @Channel9 or here: https://t.co/YvEtVJRQqG #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/PzE9UWtOfT
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7th over: Australia 44-0 (Healy 35, Bolton 7) First sign of a bit of rain on the pitch as Jenny Gunn takes a tumble. No other real tells of a bit of extra juice in the pitch. After watching the first few deliveries closely, Healy decides to pick up where she left off and crunches over the top of midwicket for four.
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First bits of info filtering through... Australia’s chase has been reduced to 48 overs. As such, they’ll now require a revised target of 278. And the players are back out there. Gunn to finish off the seventh over.
First email of my stint: “Terrible lack of urgency and downright slapstick clumsiness getting the covers on.” Yep, it really was quite comical. A good deal of rain will have got on that pitch and, to be honest, it’ll benefit England’s bowlers, who couldn’t find much in the surface in those first six-and-a-bit overs. The rain has stopped though. The brooms are out in force to get rid of the surface water that has collected during that sharp deluge.
Eeeesh, really does look grim out there. Should they really be allowed to play cricket in Australia? The just don’t have the climate for it. You know what, probably best to can this series – let’s call it a draw – and the upcoming men’s Ashes, too. Who holds them, again?
HAMMERING down. If overs start getting lost, it'd be something of a Malachi Crunch on England after the toss on Thursday. #WomensAshes
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 29, 2017
Play suspended due to rain (Australia 39-0, 6.1 overs)
Just as Healy flicks new bowler Jenny Gunn around the corner for four, the rain picks up and the players are scampering off. It’s looking quite heavy from my pictures, as the groundstaff rush to get the covers on. Looks like they’ve been caught unawares. Anyway, it’s a handy time for England to get off the field and regroup.
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6th over: Australia 35-0 (Healy 26, Bolton 7) Edge drawn off Bolton, but wide of second slip and away to third man. To the moral victor (Shrubsole), the hollow spoils. With Healy on strike, Knight puts in a three-quarters square leg for the pull in the air, as Taylor comes up to the stumps to keep the form woman in her crease.
5th over: Australia 33-0 (Healy 25, Bolton 6) Peculiar start to the over, as Healy flat-bats a pull down the ground for one, then Bolton’s postcard-perfect straight drive thumps into the stumps at the nonstriker’s end. Both return one run to the Australian score. Nevermind, says Healy, as she gets value from two of the next three deliveries: using width to clout off the back foot through cover for four and then manufacturing enough length to swipe through midwicket for just as many. ICYMI: she was shelled on four...
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4th over: Australia 23-0 (Healy 16, Bolton 5) Nicole Bolton comes to the party. Undone by a bit of away shape from Shrubsole, she latches onto a shorter ball and, walking away to square leg, punches it along the carpet through cover point for four.
England have never lost when Fran Wilson has got a 🦆 - 5 before today. #TheStatsDontLie #WomensAshes
— CRICKETher (@crickether) October 29, 2017
3rd over: Australia 19-0 (Healy 16, Bolton 1) Yep, that’ll do. Pristine lofted straight-drive from Healy: a hit so clean you could eat your dinner off it. Brunt unimpressed. Then again, it was off her bowling.
2nd over: Australia 9-0 (Healy 8, Bolton 0) BIG DROP! Extrapolating a touch here, but considering how well Healy’s been batting, Fran Wilson has let one slip at point off the bowling of Anya Shrubsole. It was a sweetly timed hit to point, but Wilson was in position early and moving to her right – both hands out, following the ball, no dive necessary. So the fact that she could only tip it past the post instead of send Healy on her way is bitterly disappointing for England. What an early blow that would have been.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Healy 4, Bolton 0) Carry and shape for Katherine Brunt. Timing and poise from Alyssa Healy, even if there was a play-and-miss in among that first six. Australia’s chase off the mark with a classy inside-out drive from Healy, who covers whatever movement there is to thread four through cover.
Morning and/or good afternoon, depending on your location in this wonderful world of ours. Vish here, taking you through England’s defence of their 284. Australia need to dig deep and chase what would rank as the second best in women’s ODIs.
Healy and Bolton v Brunt up first...
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Australia require 285 to win.
A sketchy innings in many ways, each time England looked to be ready to explore, wickets followed. It was the case with Taylor, who was slaying them until giving it away on 69. Then Beaumont, who was working towards top gear before finding her back foot out of her crease when Healy executed a handy little diving backhander.
The Australian ‘keeper was outstanding, also responsible for Gunn’s wicket, but Schutt was the star. She was frutal early, then took wickets in each of her next three spells as well - twice within balls of her reintroduction. That’s what you want and need from an attack leader, her 4-44 return a well-earned return.
For England, it was captain Heather Knight who kept it all together. She batted with seven partners through the course of her innings and was still there at the end, cracking a lovely inside-out drive to finish the 50 overs that summed up her resourcefulness throughout, especially when sweeping.
Perry also did her job with the other new ball, trapping Winfield in the opening exchanges before coming back strongly later as well, trapping England number six Fran Wilson who became the second in a collapse of 3-9 that prevented a 300+ total.
Wellington was the spinner most likely for Australia, but again went wicketless. Finger spinners Jonassen and Gardner were more expensive than usual, both picking up a wicket in the final overs.
All told, it will take some getting for Australia, even if England probably missed the chance to go well above a run-a-ball. The pressure transfers to the tourists’ attack. Can they do the job and keep England in this series? Find out with Vish, who will take over from me in the middle of the night from London. Livin la vida loca, he is. Thanks for your company. Bye for now!
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50th over: England 284-8 (Knight 88, Ecclestone 1)
Knight belts two, in the gap between the sweepers on the legside. But only one to the fourth ball. That leaves Ecclestone two deliveries. How will the 18-year-old handle this? Get off strike for the last ball? Go for gold? Both, kind of - slapping across the line to Blackwell, who missed a direct hit. Knight to face the last ball of the innings and... it is flighted up, so Knight goes inside-out over cover to get a four! Well played. She finishes on 88 in 80 balls. Some final thoughts in a tic before I hand over to Vish.
WICKET! Shrubsole c Schutt b Jonassen 1 (England 276-8)
Shrubsole holes out to deep midwicket, unable to make enough contact with a sweep across the line. They did well to get Knight off strike to the first ball courtesy of a bye. Sure it wasn’t intentional from Healy, but it worked. In saying that, Knight will be on strike again now with the batsman crossing when the ball was mid-air. Four balls left.
49th over: England 275-7 (Knight 81, Shrubsole 1)
Determined running between the England leadership axis eeked out five runs, but Schutt’s variety of slower balls never allowed them to reach the boundary. They could have from the last ball, driven hard to cover, but a determined dive from Gardner made sure it would only be one. Six from the penultimate over, along with the wicket.
WICKET! Gunn c Healy b Schutt 16 (England 269-7)
What a catch! Healy has again looked after Schutt here, to get her a fourth. It was very good bowling, winning the edge. But it was Healy who had the skills to stay low enough for long enough, coming up only when she had to, to glove it expertly. “Brilliant catch to ignore your instincts!” says her uncle on the commentary, who knew a little bit about the wicketkeeping caper.
48th over: England 269-6 (Knight 77, Gunn 16)
First SIX of the match! Knight gets down on the knee again and wallops Gardner over long-on. That will do it. Singles throughout the rest, with Gunn retaining the strike with a single down the ground. 11 from it. Two overs left.
6 takes Knight to her highest score v AUS. A chance to break Edwards' record for highest score for ENG v AUS in Australia (90). #womensashes
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 29, 2017
47th over: England 258-6 (Knight 69, Gunn 13)
Schutt is back. Has struck in each of her three spells so far. Looks like the official ruling on the Healy wicket was a stumping, so she gets that one too. Handy. Two overs to go for her. No boundaries coming from this one, Gunn’s cover-driven three to begin the over the best of it. Seven from it.
46th over: England 251-6 (Knight 67, Gunn 7)
Knight finishes off a middling over with a bang, sweeping hard behind square, one bounce over the rope. Until then four singles off Gardner, but it finishes off netting eight. She has a couple to go and probably will have to bowl them out from here, having been more effective today than Jonassen. The 250 also up.
45th over: England 243-6 (Knight 61, Gunn 5)
Perry gets through her final over with seven from it - a good result for Australia at this stage. But Gunn will be happy as well, lashing a cover drive away. Could cause a bit of damage in the final few overs as she did in the World Cup group game against Australia in July. That cameo proved matchwinning, after all.
ENG 243/6 with 5 overs to go.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 29, 2017
Number of times AUS have won chasing 240+ target - 12
Number of times without Lanning - 4
#womensashes
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WICKET! Brunt c Perry b Gardner 12 (England 235-6)
The shot has was so productive for them when the runs flowed earlier, but Brunt falls to a sweep that she has top edged to Perry running around at square leg. Gardner has been popped in for an over here and an over there through the course of the innings, and she’s finally in the book. Deservedly so, she has been pretty good. And only two runs from the over. Well bowled. Six to go.
44th over: England 236-5 (Knight 59, Gunn 0)
43rd over: England 234-5 (Knight 57, Brunt 12)
Shot. Knight begins Perry’s new over with a crisp cover drive through the gap, racing away for four. She’s back in the right spot by the end of the set, finishing with a well-directed yorker.
Got a mum playing cricket with her maybe three-year-old daughter below the press box. Mum is carting her all over the park. #WomensAshes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) October 29, 2017
42nd over: England 227-5 (Knight 51, Brunt 11)
Knight to 50, her 14th in ODIs, with a square drive out to the deep. Got a bad decision on Thursday but has bounced back well here with a 54-ball hand that continues to place her side well. Later in the over she’s again sweeping Wellington, who concedes five from her final over. Doesn’t look it on paper, wicketless again, but she’s just great.
41st over: England 222-5 (Knight 48, Brunt 9)
Righto, happy hour. Gardner gets the first over of it. And after keeping it tight to date, she’s gone for ten here. Knight does the bulk of the work, pulling into the gap at midwicket for four then carving to third man for three. Perfect start to the final ten.
See the Healy run out/stumping earlier. What is it, then? And why?
That was absolutely outstanding from Alyssa Healy! 👏👏https://t.co/YvEtVK9rPg #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/ZqX04X59C8
— Australia Women 🏏 (@SouthernStars) October 29, 2017
40th over: England 212-5 (Knight 40, Brunt 7)
Jonassen back. And again she is expensive, conceding nine. Singles early on, then a wide, then Brunt tucks into a cover drive. Her batting has evolved significantly, now a legit all-rounder in a T20 context, coming in at four for the Yorkshire Diamonds in this year’s KSL and doing it well. Then made England’s first half-century of the series on Thursday night, her maiden 50 in ODIs, too. My point: if she can stick around with Heather Knight to the end of this England innings, they could still go big.
39th over: England 203-5 (Knight 38, Brunt 1)
Yep, Wilson smashed it. Should prompt a discussion as to why DRS isn’t being used in this series. Bilaterial women series don’t come bigger. Unprecedented coverage. A shame the cash hasn’t been splashed to get the technology here as well.
Updated
WICKET! Wilson lbw Perry 0 (England 201-5)
Wilson on the advance, a long way down, Perry has hit Wilson on the full so there’s little hesitation for the umpire. Some suggestion on the commentary that an inside edge may have been involved, but that’s unclear, and no DRS anyway. To be fair, she was probably out last over leg before and saved by the lack of review. So the right result. England aren’t in strife, but they their position has weakened significanly losing 3 for 9 in the space of the last four overs.
38th over: England 200-4 (Knight 36, Wilson 0)
BIG SHOUT for lbw, another full ball moving a long way, but Wilson survives. Phwoar, I reckon that’s hitting. But no DRS. Big fightback from Australia, the second time they have broken England are a vital time in this innings. Pressure transfers back to Knight, who probably has to be there at the end now for anything like 300 to be tallied.
WICKET! Sciver b Schutt 7 (England 200-4)
Sciver got England to 200 but not a run more, done by a superb inswinging yorker by Schutt, who is having a wonderful day. Sciver threw the bat down when realising where the ball was heading, but not in time. The end of a poor series with the bat for the all-rounder.
37th over: England 198-3 (Knight 36, Sciver 5)
TV is calling the Healy dismissal a stumping. Fair dinkum? Am I going crazy? Help me out here, OBO world. Help me justify my case beyond “it’s the vibe” . Into the batting power play too, Nat Sciver has taken full advantage with a dainty little turn around the corner, fine leg up. Only two other singles. Won’t take long before she’s trying to launch a few bombs.
36th over: England 192-3 (Knight 35, Sciver 0)
“Cricket is not fair some times,” the assessment of England legend Charlotte Edwards on the telly. “You play so well and get out like that.” Nat Sciver joins Knight. These two did huge damage batting together in the World Cup. They have 14 overs here.
WICKET! Beaumont run out Healy 74 (England 192-3)
Brilliant! Schutt’s introduction has brought an immediate reward again, but not conventionally. Beaumont got in position to lap, missed, and the ball spilled inside Healy’s reach, flicked back onto the woodwork with the England opener’s foot still out of her ground. That’s a very important dismissal. Beaumont tends to go really big when getting this far into an innings. Not today.
HAS HEALY RUN BEAUMONT OUT? Going upstairs.
35th over: England 185-2 (Beaumont 69, Knight 33)
Knight sweeps two more from Wellington before the leggie misses, adding a wide. Six runs tick over in total, Knight keeping the strike with a sweep as well. I’ve said sweep so many times that I am not sure if I know what the word means anymore.
34th over: England 179-2 (Beaumont 68, Knight 29)
Gardner for her third spell. And sure enough, met with a sweep by Knight. They are sweeping four of six balls at the moment. And a reverse now - Beaumont missing. Half a shout for leg before. Gee, that’s close. Lydia Greenway would be loving this watching on in the UK, the England sweepoloist until her retirement last year. Down the ground by Knight this time to keep it ticking over, Beaumont another dancing. Knight keeps the strike. Guess how? Yep. Sweeping. Five from it.
33rd over: England 174-2 (Beaumont 66, Knight 26)
AJ Wellington gets another go after the glass of cordial. Knight immediately off strike. The leggie determined to keep throwing it up at Beaumont. Great contest between these two. Oh, she should be gone! Fat top edge when again trying to sweep, but not to hand. 50 stand up through a Knight sweep later in the over. Beaumont wants to scamper down for one to finish, but sent back by her captain. Three from it.
@collinsadam shame you went with the third best sweep option... pic.twitter.com/KZncSHDn7M
— phil withall (@phil_withall) October 29, 2017
32nd over: England 171-2 (Beaumont 65, Knight 24)
Jonassen bounces back servicably after a poor previous over. She wins a false stroke from Knight early on, who gets four from the cut but could have gone to hand on another day. Only one further single from it. Drinks are called.
Heather Knight brings up her 2000th career run in ODI's #WomensAshes
— Josh (@joshrobbo44) October 29, 2017
31st over: England 166-2 (Beaumont 64, Knight 19)
Wellington back and Beaumont doesn’t miss a beat, sweeping with tremendous timing to end what was an otherwise useful over. Picks out the gap perfectly “What a shot!” says Healy on the TV. Too right. Wellington spinning the ball away from the right hander, but you would never know from that stroke. Slow to start, on it big time now.
30th over: England 159-2 (Beaumont 60, Knight 17)
Jonassen back and the sweepathon continues. I asked Geoff Lemon the other night if he remembered Supermarket Sweep with Ian Turpie, and he didn’t. For shame. Will youtube? Let’s find out. It bloody does! Welcome to the OBO, Turps. Jonassen doesn’t help the situation, giving Beaumont a legit half-tracker, and she doesn’t miss out. Beyond 150 they go. Tammy has the ability to go through the gears very quickly. Watch for her going inside-out over cover sooner rather than later.
29th over: England 148-2 (Beaumont 51, Knight 15)
Sweeps for both - reverse from Knight; conventional Beaumont. They play twice as many sweeps as Australia, the TV tells us. “Is it worth having a short-fine to stop them playing that shot?” asks Lisa Sthalekar on the TV, the former Aussie offie.
28th over: England 144-2 (Beaumont 50, Knight 13)
Perry given a second. She bangs one into Beaumont, and she is up to it, hooking it away fine four! Really good shot, taking her to one short of a half-century. She gets it to the next ball. 73 balls to get there, six boundaries. Her fifth half-century in 47 ODIs and first against Australia. The second of England’s top six to raise the bat today; the first of the series. The player of the World Cup is now responsible for doubling up and getting England to 300 or there abouts. Have ample firepower down the list to help.
27th over: England 137-2 (Beaumont 44, Knight 12)
Haynes keeps throwing it around with very short spells, Wellington now brought back for a second shift. Predicably big spin, four singles taken to sweepers with a minimum of risk.
Most ODI runs as keeper in calendar yr
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) October 29, 2017
630 Taylor 2008 (17 inns)
592 Priest 2015 (13)
525 Taylor 2017 (12)
524 Rolls 2002 (14)#womensashes
26th over: England 133-2 (Beaumont 44, Knight 8)
Villani on the mic now with the TV callers. She has a chip at Sarah Taylor for getting out: “Had a few brain fades out there, it’s as though it gets too easy for her.” She thinks the track is slightly better to bat on again than it was during the Thursday ODI, where Australia ran up 296 in the first innings.
Perry is back after the successful one over spell from Schutt. She continues what has been a handy stint from Australia just when England looked like they were getting away from them. Three singles from it, including a quick one to finish where Perry has to do the fielding off her own bowling at cover, but misses the stumps by a long way with the turn-and-throw attempt. 12 runs and a wicket from the last four overs.
25th over: England 130-2 (Beaumont 43, Knight 6)
Gardner goes from around the wicket to over at Knight. From both directions, she is right on the mark with ample flight. Known mostly for her clobbering in WBBL before playing for Australia, Gardner was initially first-choice spinner for NSW coming through junior ranks. Only a single from this over, Knight sweeping the final ball of the over to keep the strike. Doing a fine job.
24th over: England 129-2 (Beaumont 43, Knight 5)
Also should note that Haynes is rewarded for bringing opener Schutt back into the attack. A big call given by doing that she won’t have as many overs from her at the death. Knight is away straight away, the England captain picking up two then three, excellent timing through midwicket to begin.
WICKET! Taylor c Jonassen b Schutt 69 (England 124-2)
Taylor gives it away! The ball after latching onto a reverse sweep with the high degree of difficulty, she’s spooned a nothing delivery to backward point. The end of an important innings, no doubt, but that had three figures all over it. She knows it too, filthy with herself for the error.
23rd over: England 120-1 (Beaumont 43, Taylor 65)
Gardner racing thorugh from around the wicket, squeezing out an over in 75 seconds that only gives up a couple of singles to the sweepers. Needed that.
22nd over: England 118-1 (Beaumont 42, Taylor 64)
Another big over, 12 from it. Taylor and Beaumont boundaries to the first and third ball of Jonassen’s set smashing past midwicket then long-on respectively. In fact, the second was a drive not a smash, the opener now into the 40s herself after a slow start. Urgent wicket required for Australia or this could get big and fast.
England looking ominous at 1-106 after 21. They've never lost when posting 270 in the 1st innings. That seems par today #WomensAshes
— Samuel Ferris (@samuelfez) October 29, 2017
21st over: England 106-1 (Beaumont 37, Taylor 57)
Gardner again. The ground announcer here at Coffs enjoys a chat. During the Thursday game, she repeatedly said that Kristen Beams was her favourite. Indeed, every time she came onto bowl she made mention of it. Today, she has decided that Garnder is “Coffs Harbour’s favourite.” Fair enough. Back to the middle, Taylor takes the first ball through midwicket for her tenth boundary. Rocking and rolling, a reverse attempted next, a couple coming. Alex Blackwell’s wonderful dive is just as good as Jonassen’s a couple of overs ago saving another boundary. “Centimetre perfect,” says Mel Jones on TV of the dive, channelling Dennis Cometti. That it was. Australia doing everything they can to keep hanging in there, but the 100 partnership is up now and they look well set.
20th over: England 97-1 (Beaumont 36, Taylor 51)
One to square leg brings up Sarah Taylor’s half-century. 55 balls to get there, nine boundaries coming along the way. After a frenetic start, she’s worked into a very useful hand. The first of the England top six to make it to 50 so far in this series. Has to now do as she did a couple of times in the World Cup and push on to three figures. Four singles again from Jonassen, just as it was to her first over.
19th over: England 93-1 (Beaumont 34, Taylor 49)
Ash Gardner does make it tandem finger spinners, another who had an impressive World Cup. Relatively new to the Australian set up, but already crucial for what she brings with both ball and bat. Lovely start here, throwing it up and getting plenty of turn. Four dot balls to Beaumont through the middle part of the over. Her response to the tidy line and length is a reverse sweep, making sound contact. But an excellent piece of fielding from Jonassen, flcking back into play just in time, saves a runs. Excellent cricket.
Updated
18th over: England 89-1 (Beaumont 31, Taylor 48)
Jess Jonassen into the attack, replacing McGrath. Took more wickets than anyone during the first two-year cycle of the women’s ICC championship. Had an excellent World Cup, too, usually with the new ball. Four singles taken to the sweepers in her opening set. Both sides probably okay with that.
Oi, are you watching? If you are, drop me a line. That’s how the OBO works best. If you’re not watching, pop it on. Good little contest here. Deserves your eyeballs.
17th over: England 85-1 (Beaumont 29, Taylor 46)
It is Wello once more. Forces half a false stroke from Taylor, who doesn’t quite get to the pitch. But off strike next ball, using the crease to get deep before cutting. Beaumont does much the same to the next ball. Good accumulation. Oooooh, she beats Taylor with the last of the over. That’s really turned and bounced. How she only has one wicket in this series so far is beyond me. Three from it.
16th over: England 82-1 (Beaumont 27, Taylor 45)
Runs, runs, runs! Four boundaries in five balls after Beaumont adds to in the first half of McGrath’s new over after Taylor did the same to finish off Wellington’s previous set. Down the ground over the head of Villani isn’t without risk, but does the job. The punch off the back foot is far prettier to watch, racing past point. Nine from it. Drinks. Perfectly timed for Australia, who need to regroup. Suspect we’ll see finger spinners Jonassen and Gardner into it very soon.
15th over: England 73-1 (Beaumont 18, Taylor 45)
Wellington drops short, Taylor obliges with a single to point. Beaumont does the same with a sweep. OH!! Taylor dances and edges, straight to where first slip would be. And should be, no? She’s bowling beautifully. Deserves to be in the book for that. She goes again too, cutting in a similar direction for another boundary. To 45 from as many balls.
14th over: England 62-1 (Beaumont 16, Taylor 36)
Beaumont cranking up the machine here, having plenty of time to get her eye in. McGrath doesn’t go plenty wrong landing a length delivery, but the opener swipes furiously across the line, timing it nicely to record her second boundary.
Sarah Taylor is looking in good touch, not the bad touch like when you try to shake someone’s hand and just get fingers. #womensashes
— Josh Glass (@HotYoungPiece) October 29, 2017
Updated
13th over: England 57-1 (Beaumont 11, Taylor 36)
Wellington again. Taylor up to the task this time, down the track and over mid-on for a boundary. Only way to play the leggie when she’s landing them this well, this early. Sure enough, the Australian is back on top almost immediately, beating Beaumont’s edge. Such class.
12th over: England 50-1 (Beaumont 9, Taylor 31)
McGrath bowling to her field. Taylor gets one past Haynes at cover, who can’t collect cleanly. She’s had a couple of those today. Beaumont’s turn, and she whips hard without making great contact. The single to fine leg brings up England’s 50. The opener only has nine of them, but she’s still there. I’m backing her in.
On the TV, in the space of a minute Ian Healy has called both Sarah Harris (Taylor) and Laura (Lauren) Winfield. As a radio caller I feel I’m leading with my chin a bit by bringing this up, but to hell with it.
Alex Blackwell plays her 250th international game today. Still pronounces the L in 'Australia' though, so, got some work to do. #WomensAshes
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) October 28, 2017
11th over: England 46-1 (Beaumont 7, Taylor 29)
Amanda-Jade Wellington. The most exciting young spinner on the planet. She gets her first crack, from the southern end. Immediately giving it a big old rip with ample air. Like with Warne, it is the control that gets everyone so engaged witih this 20-year-old leggie. Every ball on the money here. Superb start.
10th over: England 45-1 (Beaumont 7, Taylor 28)
Yep, Perry is off. Tahlia McGrath takes up the attack from the northern end, the same bowler who replaced the opener when she was forced out of the attack with two waist-high full tosses the other night. She picked up Taylor on that occasion. This time? She’s reverse paddling her off middle stump! High risk, high reward. To the rope for a fifth time. Make that a sixth, next ball clipping thorugh midwicket like Mark Waugh. Oh that’s wonderful. McGrath fights back well to end the set. Nine from it.
Find a telly, Sarah Taylor is on one. #WomensAshes
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 28, 2017
9th over: England 36-1 (Beaumont 7, Taylor 19)
Healy comes up to Taylor as well. She gets off strike through midwicket again. They do well to keep it to one. Beaumont’s turn, who has been there a long time for not many. Australia sense this, bringing up the field into a tight circle around her to increase the degree of difficulty. But the player of World Cup in this year’s tournament is up to the task, striking a lovely cover drive through the gap and to the rope. That’s better.
8th over: England 30-1 (Beaumont 3, Taylor 18)
Perry v Taylor again. Five times in international cricket she’s dismissed the England superstar, including first ball at Canterbury during the 2015 Test. Taylor has room to free the arms early in the over, timing past point for a third boundary. Nice shot. Brings another legside wide next ball - the fourth of the innings. Blowing a bit hot and cold now, Perry. Now a full toss. Deserved to go, but Taylor again fails to beat mid-off on the circle. Nice dive from Wellington saving the runs. Oh, that’s better, a wonderful shoooooot on the up through extra cover. Shot of the morning. Nine from the over, England’s best so far. Perry might have a breather now, I reckon.
Updated
7th over: England 21-1 (Beaumont 2, Taylor 12)
Schutt again. Healy comes up to Beaumont, to keep her back. Immediately brings a legside wide, that the ‘keeper misses, so they rotate the strike. This is good colour: Ian Healy doesn’t like what his neice has elected to do by going to the stumps. Say it to her when she’s on mic, Heals. Taylor retains the strike with one to midwicket.
6th over: England 16-1 (Beaumont 2, Taylor 9)
A wide to begin then a legbye, getting Taylor back on strike to Perry. Healy, still on mic, forecasts that it is about now when the former usually chops on. She’s so punchy. Perry gets better as the over matures... and just as I prepare to hit send, she oversteps with her last ball. So, a free hit to end it. Beaumont and Taylor consult. Perry goes the bouncer, Taylor perfectly up to it, putting it away with a classic pull shot through square leg. She’s leg herself down there with the overstep, costing five runs after looking right on top of the England no. 3.
5th over: England 9-1 (Beaumont 2, Taylor 5)
Timing. Taylor drags from well outside the off stump to clip through square leg for four. Mel Jones on the telly says she wasn’t in control. Still, it’s England’s first boundary of the day. “Go Shooter!” roars Healy from behind the stumps. Such a great nickname. She’s going the job early on. Healy is on the TV too on the mic to the commentary. Says she would have been immediately sent home by her coach her she dismissed playing the ramp Sarah Taylor tried on after two balls. I think they called that #Ashes #Banter.
4th over: England 5-1 (Beaumont 2, Taylor 1)
Taylor again, yet to score. Gets a fully from Perry first up and tries to flat-bat it down the ground, unable to beat the field. Missed out there. She’s on the advance to the next ball, and beaten! Taylor all over the shop just at the minute. One of the best players in the world, can she find a bit of composure here? A timely dive from Villani at mid-on again prevents her from getting off the mark. That’s the standard. A bouncer does get her down the other end, happy to hook with control down to long leg and keep the strike.
3rd over: England 4-1 (Beaumont 2, Taylor 0)
Beaumont clips her second run, down to fine leg. She was off the mark with a bold quick single in the previous over to put Winfield back on strike, taking on Haynes at short cover. Bold, because Haynes is brillaint in there. Anyway, Taylor’s turn. And she’s beaten first up. Blimey, Sarah Taylor lapping next ball! What doing?! Ramping more than lapping, on reflection. Leg bye signalled. Not far away from being leg before as well. Well, there we have it. Australia have started wonderfully here.
WICKET! Winfield lbw Perry 0 (England 2-1)
It hasn’t taken long, Perry beats Winfield with a yard of pace angling into the right-hander off the seam. She did exactly the same the ball before and it was sliding down the legside, but this was straight enough to win the affirmative decision from the umpire. Australia are away.
2nd over: England 2-1 (Beaumont 1, Taylor 0)
Updated
1st over: England 0-0 (Winfield 0, Beaumont 0)
Excellent from Schutt, full and straight and tailing into the right handed Winfield from the get-go. She is forced to defend with a staight bat throughout.
The players. Are out. On the field! I always imagine myself doing Christopher Walken’s voice swhen aying that. Beaumont and Winfield to open for England, as they have since June 2016. Schutt has the new ball from the southern end. PLAY!
A lot of love for Alex Blackwell today. On the occasion of her 250th game for Australia. Really nice presentation on the big screen about her career, that began exactly 14 years and nine months ago. She’s interviewed in the package, talking about her pride as a gay woman athlete wearing the baggy green.
Per my preview, it’s quite something that when she began as an international cricketer only one country recognised same-sex marriage (Belgium becoming the second, the day after her debut, as it happens). Now, it is a fortnight from when her own country could be on track to become the 24th, provided the postal plebscite goes as expected. And sure enough, Blackwell has been a persuasive voice in that campaign too. Well played.
Updated
One update from my preamble. In the last quarter hour it has definitely escalated from warm to hot. Very good toss to win for England. Heather Knight spoke a lot about the importance of her top order going on with it, just as they did in the World Cup. They won’t get a better chance to cash in than this. Perfect conditions to be punishing.
And good news on the broadcast front today as well. Channel Nine have moved this game from their secondary channel to the main one. Should have been the case a week ago for the first ODI if you ask me, but better late than never, and to their credit.
Also, if you are in the car or having a frolic at the beach or something like that, you can grab the radio call on ABC local radio (i.e. the wireless) as well as the digital app. Same goes in England, the commentary also loud and clear on BBC Test Match Special.
Teams as named
Australia (In: Gardner, Out: Beams)
Bolton, Healy, Perry, Villani, Haynes, Blackwell, McGrath, Gardner, Wellington, Jonassen, Schutt.
England (no change)
Beaumont, Winfield, Taylor, Knight, Sciver, Wilson, Brunt, Gunn, Shrubsole, Ecclestone, Hartley.
Gardner returns for Beams as expected. England unchanged. #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/y9SXT4Ve6R
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 28, 2017
Updated
England won the toss and elect to bat
No surprises there. Australian captain Rachael Haynes confirms that Ash Gardner is back into the side, at the expense of unlucky leggie Kristen Beams. No news on the England side yet, but we’ll have the team sheets shortly.
Welcome to the Third Women's Ashes ODI at Coffs Harbour!
Good morning from a warm and glary morning at Coffs Harbour International Stadium. Adam Collins with you for the first innings of this third and final Women’s Ashes ODI.
It’s not must-win, but may as well be. That’s the harsh reality staring at England, coming into this without a point to their name. Heather Knight’s side held the World Cup aloft in July, but this may be her biggest test yet since taking over as skipper.
To go back over the mathematics, in this multi-format series the three ODIs are worth two points each, the standalone Test four, then three T20s also three. With 16 points available, England need ten of them to regain the trophy that they lost at home in 2015.
As a result, Australia know full well that they have a chance to land a near-killer blow in the event of a 50-over clean sweep today. It would mean only a draw in the Test Match next month would be enough to retain the Ashes.
They were clinical on Thursday in the second match, also here. After being sent in – a call England management later acknowledged was a poor one when rain didn’t fall forecasts suggested – they racked up 296 and defended it with ease, 75 run victors.
There’s some history to draw from if they require further incentive, vice-captain Alex Blackwell today the first Australian woman to reach 250 internationals. I‘ve written about how the game has chanced during her career, that began in January 2003 (!).
Australia also has a big inclusion, Ash Gardner set to return after missing on Thursday with a concussion she sustained in the series opener. Gardner hits the ball further than just about anyone in the women’s game, and bowls more than tidy off-spin.
For England’s part, they aren’t quite at the point of wholesale changes, giving every indication yesterday of dancing with the ones that brought them on that mighty World Cup run. Sophie Ecclestone is the addition to that XI, the 18-year-old tweaker keeping her spot after an Ashes debut where she looked pretty much right at home.
All that leaves me to do is encourage you to drop me a line through the course of the morning. I’m in the usual places, on the email or the tweet. You know you the drill. Stay tuned for the toss, scheduled in about 15 minutes. Whoever wins it will be batting.
Adam will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how the series can be won:
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
Twenty20 matches (two points for a win)
- 17 November, North Sydney
- 19 November, Canberra
- 21 November, Canberra
