The much-anticipated Women’s Ashes series is up and running. Having won the toss, Alyssa Healy, Australia’s captain, had no doubt that they wanted to bat first. And her decision was vindicated as Australia finished day one on 328-7.
Exceptional Perry at work again
Australians came into the contest without Meg Lanning, their regular captain and prolific batter. Under such circumstances, the onus was on the experienced Ellyse Perry to come up with a good performance. Perry hardly ever disappoints, and today was no different. Playing in a record tenth Women’s Ashes series, Perry scored a crucial 99 to put her team in a good position in the first innings. Australia’s opening pair of Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield both got starts but couldn’t manage to carry on. Perry joined forces with Tahlia McGrath and played a superb conventional Test knock. Perry looked at ease for the most part, and she played the drives and cuts beautifully. She missed out on her third Test century by one run, becoming the fourth woman to be dismissed for 99 in Tests. Trying to reach her century, Perry was caught at gully by Nat Sciver-Brunt as she tried to slice one over the infield.
Sophie Ecclestone bowls a ripper
England came into this match with four pacers, and a lone spinner in Sophie Ecclestone. Ecclestone being Heather Knight’s trump card, Knight kept backing her and set attacking fields with two slips even when Perry and McGrath were both past their half-centuries and looking comfortable. Ecclestone, in fact, bowled 28 overs on the trot with the lunch and rain break falling within that spell. She is known for her superb use of the bowling crease and variations in pace, and that was exactly what worked for her again on Thursday. Ecclestone, completely against the run of play, removed a well-set McGrath with a ripper, and then went on to remove Jess Jonassen and Healy in the same over to peg Australia back. While she fooled McGrath by bowling wide of the crease and a bit slower through the air, she pushed the ball through a little quicker for Healy. Both times, it worked.
Top score for Tahlia
McGrath joined Perry after Mooney departed, and at 83-2, Australia needed a big partnership. McGrath kept the scoreboard ticking over, and built a solid foundation with Perry. McGrath looked in fine touch and she quickly went on to score her half-century. After reaching 50, she started looking more dangerous and was looking to take the game away from the hosts when Ecclestone stopped her with a beauty. The 61 she scored was her highest in Test cricket.
Lauren Filer bowls short and fast
Lauren Filer, England’s debutant, was touted as the fastest bowler in the England squad and she was drafted into the playing XI ahead of the likes of Issy Wong because of her pace. Filer, on her debut, had her task cut out. It seemed like every time Filer got the ball, the instructions were quite clear – bowl fast and bowl short. Filer hardly bowled anything on a good length or pitched up to the bat. She would be pretty happy with first day in Test cricket, though, as she picked up the prized scalps of Mooney and Perry, undoubtedly two of the best batters in the modern game.
Gardner-Sutherland to the rescue
After the rain break, England bowlers seemed to have dragged the game back by taking three wickets within a span off 24 balls, while giving away just 12 runs. Ashleigh Gardner and Annabel Sutherland had to stitch a partnership together, otherwise Australia’s innings was in a spot of bother at 238-6. Initially, both the batters looked uncomfortable but the more they stayed at the wicket, the better they got. Soon, they started counter-attacking the English bowlers. They added 77 for the seventh wicket and put Australia right back in the game. Gardner was dismissed towards the end of the day’s play after scoring 40. The second new ball did the trick for England.