Tiring, frustrating, annoying, and whatnot. No better words are there in the English dictionary to define what emotions the England women’s team has faced in the first five sessions of this only Ashes Test between England women and Australia women.
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After playing almost 124 overs, the Australia women’s team has put up a massive 473 runs on the board in the first innings after opting in to bat. This score is so huge that it is the highest score ever scored in the first innings of a Women’s test match.
The newly appointed Australian test captain, Alyssa Healy, won the toss and elected to bat first. Her decision was taken so seriously by her teammates that they piled on a mountain of runs for the English batters to climb. Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield got good starts but could not convert.
And then came the cricket superwoman, Ellyse Perry, who went on strike and played a fantastic inning of 99 runs along with Tahlia McGrath, who made 61. The Aussie captain had an unfortunate day as she got out to the woman of the hour, Sophie Ecclestone, for a duck.
Annabel Sutherland then played a majestic inning and scored an unbeaten maiden test match century on such a big stage. Alana King, Kim Garth, and Ash Gardner chipped in with useful contributions, taking Australia way ahead in this match and leaving England with nothing.
The only thing to rejoice about in the English camp is Sophie Ecclestone’s fifer, who was brilliant from the word go. The left-arm finger spinner got the wickets of Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Alyssa Healy, Kim Garth, and Darcie Brown in her spell. She was by far the best English bowler in terms of wickets as well as in terms of economy, finishing her spell with 46.2-9-129-5 at an economy of just 2.8 runs per over.
As we write this article, the English innings has started and has been unscathed till now. England will require a herculean effort from at least two batters to reach this total. Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver-Brunt are the players to watch out for in the second inning of this only Ashes test between England women and Australia women.