After a rousing T20 series between England Women and Australia Women, it is time to switch our attention to the 50-over format. England Women cross swords with Australia Women in the first ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday. The County Ground. Bristol will be hosting this high-octane clash.
The English Women are riding on the back of two back-to-back victories against Australia in the T20I series which they claimed with a 2-1 finish. The side was reeling behind after Australia emerged victorious in the first T20I. The home side needed to win the second T20I at the Kennington Oval in order to equalize the tally. They not only did so but also went on to defeat the world-beaters on a trot.
It is worth mentioning that all three T20Is witnessed one heck of a competition between both sides. The first T20I saw Beth Mooney steering her side past the finishing line in the final over. In the following game, England got to defend a total of 186 runs by a meagre 3 runs margin.
And in the decider, we got to see rain cashing in and compelling a 14-over side contest in the second innings. England’s target was curtailed down to 119 which transpired to be a tricky one as their counterparts kept no stone unturned in the field.
The multi-format Ashes are still alive for the home side as they trail by 4-6 at this moment. Earlier, Australia earned four points by steamrolling the ‘Three Lioness’ in the Only Test that was played in Nottingham. Batting first, the Alyssa Healy-led side managed to score 473 runs in the first innings on the back of Annabel Sutherland’s 137 and Ellyse Perry’s 99.
In reply, Tammy Beaumont amassed a double century to help England post 463 runs. The target for the fourth innings was trimmed out to 267 for the home side which they failed to surmount, losing by 89 runs.
The ODI series is going to be very crucial for both sides. England needs to win all three ODIs in order to clinch the prestigious multi-format Ashes series. The breaking news from the English camp is that pace bowling sensation, Lauren Filer is in like to make her ODI debut in the wake of impressive performances during the only red-ball game.
She impressed all with her ability to click 75 mph, also recording the fastest-ever delivery bowled by an England Women cricketer. In addition, Beaumont has also been summoned to the squad after her impressive outing in the white jersey for the national team.
What they have done so far?
Starting off with the visitors, we’ve seen runs come in patches from the openers. Alyssa Healy played some outrageous shots at the start but failed to get along with them in most cases. Similarly, Mooney hasn’t looked at the peak of her form despite a half-century in the 1st T20I.
Although it came in a winning cause, the next few innings sounded more scratchy than usual. The middle-order prowess of Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, and Grace Harris have scored runs in brisk fashion while Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland have blossomed during the series. The latter has been one of the best positives for the Aussies with both bat and ball in hand.
When it comes to the bowling department, the spin trio of Gardner, Jess Jonassen, and Georgia Wareham have been influential in controlling the run and fragmenting the important partnerships at indispensable junctures of the game.
On the flip side, the Heather Knight-led community have shown some character coming out in the Ashes. They kicked off the multi-format Ashes in an uncanny way after they were found on receiving end of losses in the Test match and the first T20I. They have a rich blend of youth and experience which came together and rebelled in the second and third T20I.
Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver-Brunt are in good form with the bat and the rise in the form of Alice Capsey at Lord’s would mean a huge boost to the side. Once again, just like their counterparts, the spin department has been brilliant for England. The likes of Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean have been influential in getting the job done at the need of the hour.
Head-to-Head Record
England Women and Australia Women have squared off against one another in 83 ODIs so far. The Aussies have dominated the format with 57 wins whereas the English side has managed to win a game just on 22 occasions. The remaining four games ended up with no result.
Also, when it comes to the last 10 ODIs played between the two nations, Australia dominates the tally 9-1 against England.
Key Players
Annabel Sutherland: The 21-year-old all-rounder has found her groove with both bat and ball in hand. She notched up a brilliant ton during the only Test versus England, scoring 137 (184)* facing a good bowling attack. She has also scalped a three-fer during the second T20I and can be very handy across any phase of the game.
Tammy Beaumont struck a double century in the only Test versus Australia
Tammy Beaumont: The English top-order batter made a scintillating return with a double century in the one-off Test against Australia. The 32-year-old also converted her good form with the bat in the white ball game against Northern Diamonds in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, scoring 83* off 62 balls.
Predicted XIs
Australia Women: Alyssa Healy © (wk), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Alana King
England Women: Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey. Heather Knight ©, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Lauren Filer, Issy Wong
Prediction
It is a very important game for both sides and on paper, both of them are quite formidable. When it comes to England they are on a winning spree at the moment and will be oozing out in confidence. They will be blazing all guns out in order to claim the ashes and for that a win in all the three ODIs are important. Hence, England Women could come out on top once again.