Katherine Brunt celebrates the key wicket of Rachael Haynes on day one of the Women’s Ashes Test at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
Katherine Brunt celebrates the key wicket of Rachael Haynes on day one of the Women’s Ashes Test at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Photograph: Lukas Coch/EPA
Well, what to make of that? An absorbing first day of this solitary Ashes Test match. Ebb, flow, runs, wickets, catches and drops. England had the Aussies on the ropes early doors, two quick wickets and then an almost unheard of failure for Ellyse Perry saw Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes come together for a rebuild job. England put down a few chances and missed the opportunity to really twist the knife. Australia made them pay, at 211-3 it looked pretty grim for Heather Knight and co.
A couple of quick wickets after tea changed things, albeit briefly. Lanning and Haynes missed out on Test centuries but Ash Gardner and Thalia McGrath set about counterattacking magnificently to ram home their sides’ advantage. England roused again at the end to remove both batters just after their fifties but with 327 already on the board and the license for a bit of a swing in the morning it’ll be the antipodean contingent who will sleep sounder this evening.
Enough wittering from me. Here’s Geoff Lemon’s more insightful take on the day:
WICKET! McGrath ct Jones b Sciver 52 (Australia 327-7)
A tempter and McGrath falls into the trap at the end of a long day! She didn’t need to play at that but fancied another carve up through the off side only managing to feather an edge through to Amy Jones, who takes her fifth catch of the innings.
And that is it for the day. Still very much Australia in the ascendancy but England will be relieved to see the back of McGrath, who is so clearly a dangerously good player.
DROP and FIFTY Gah. McGrath brings up her half century with an uppish cut through backward point that bursts through Dunkley’s hands. She’ll be upset with that effort. Fine knock from McGrath. It’s been Australia’s day. Fo’sho.
95th over: Australia 318-6 (McGrath 47, Sutherland 3) Sutherland gets a chunky edge away for four. England would dearly love to sneak one before the close. A couple of overs left in the day.
94th over: Australia 317-6 (McGrath 46, Sutherland 3) Kate Cross into the attack and bish bash bonza! McGrath hits three boundaries off the over. If it wasn’t obvious enough from her performance in the first T20I - McGrath is a serious talent. We may only get a couple more overs in today. It’s been a long one for England’s bowlers and there’s a slight weary feel to their business now.
Ash Gardner attacked 61% of her deliveries today on her way to making 56.
That is the highest attacking shot percentage of any Australian to make a 50+ score in a Test match (Since 2013 where shot type data is available) #Ashes@IGcompic.twitter.com/ph1xKai6il
92nd over: Australia 301-6 (McGrath 32, Sutherland 1) Maiden for Shrubsole who is on the moolah with all six.
“Hi Jim,
Morning Don Linke.
“Have loved your work all summer, such sacrifice still in cold pre-dawn temps for our reward” Too kind Don.
Nice and warm in Melbourne (YEH YEH), but Mate your maths is screwy.. over 82 & 83 you called 7 runs but the total only increased by 3, are you trying a new ECB scoring method?
Ah. Don. He’ll kiss you then he’ll kill you. Apologies for any slight number fuddles, this is my first proper trot out with the OBO tools. If we’ve had one thing drilled into us this last few months it is that WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND NOT KEEP MAKING THEM.
90th over: Australia 300-6 (McGrath 32, Sutherland 0) We’ll have ten more overs today. Yes please. England will want to get into the tail this evening and Australia will be happy with 350 on the board by stumps?
88th over: Australia 292-5 (McGrath 28, Gardner 52) Close but no cigar* for Shrubsole and England. And what’s all this? Gardner crunches a drive back to Brunt, who gathers and has a whang at the stumps, Gardner then pads up and there’s a strangled appeal?! Are they going up for obstruction? Most odd. There’s nothing doing whatever it was. Much ado and all that. Gardner responds by crisply punching Brunt for four through point. Class.
*Don’t mention cigars! I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.
More prodigious (what else is there?) from Shrubsole and she traps McGrath LBW! GIVEN! Nipped back, could be high, T sign from Thalia, we’re going upstairs.
87th over: Australia 284-5 (McGrath 28, Gardner 52) Ash Gardner now has her highest score in Test cricket. Brunt beats her with a beauty though, there’s swing there with this new ball - it’s a deep cherry red and is hooping about a bit with a bit of cloud cover in Canberra.
86th over: Australia 284-5 (McGrath 27, Gardner 52) It’s Sciver from the other end. England need to break this partnership. That won’t do it. A half volley is dispatched by McGrath. It felt like England had got themselves back into the Test but these two are grappling it back away from them.
85th over: Australia 284-5 (McGrath 22, Gardner 50) FIFTY FOR ASH GARDNER! That is a fine, counter-punching knock. It is Brunt with the shiny new ball and Gardner greets it with a languid drive through the covers for four. Batted.
83rd over: Australia 271-5 (McGrath 20, Gardner 39) Gardner sweeps Ecclestone away for four and there’s a two and a one. That could be it for this old nut, I can see Brunt loosening up.
81st over: Australia 266-5 (McGrath 18, Gardner 36)
Curiously England have opted not to take the new ball.
Hmm. What’s the plan ‘ere then?
Charlie Dean is hit for two fours by Gardner in the first over back after drinks. Curious indeed.
Max Andrews is on the emails and he’s being a bit cheeky...
Morning,
Re over 72 and the search for the laptop charger, does the phrase “bare with” suggest this was a naked endeavour? Is this taking the sartorial casualness of WFH to a new level?”
I can assure you there is a dressing gown and lots of layers Max.
“On a cricketing note... (THANKFULLY)
Can’t help but see the parallels with the mens tests here: early inroads by the England bowlers but a match-turning fight back by the Aus batters.”
Maybe Max. Maybe. I don’t like to bring the men into it really but I will say that there has already been more moments of promise and energy in this half a day and a bit than I can remember over the past 2 months combined.
79th over: Australia 249-5 (McGrath 15, Gardner 22) Dean is looping them up nicely, nice flight from the young tyro. The box of balls is about to make an appearance. One more to go.
78th over: Australia 248-5 (McGrath 15, Gardner 21) Spin from both ends which is challenging for the clumsy typist to keep up. It’s gone a bit flat out there again for England, the flurry of quick runs has curbed their enthusiasm somewhat.
