Report from Adelaide
Down and out:
Updated
The studio discuss Heather Knight’s future. Does she want it, does she have the wherewithal to transform the team from within and improve her own batting levels? And if not her, who? NSB, Amy Jones, Charlie Dean? None are ideal.
Alastair Cook has slipped into his seat ahead of England men’s match against India. England women are 20 percent behind Australia in all facets of the game, he says. But the exciting thing is how they bounce back.
And with that, time to put these white-ball matches to bed. A huge disappointment, England totally out-classed and yet to even grab a point in the series. Today’s thrashing by 72 runs the worst batting performance of the lot, despite really quite a decent 20 overs with the ball.
We will return for the pink-ball Test at the MCG on January 30, England hoping desperately that Kate Cross will be fit. There are four points on offer, with the brilliant Australian machine keen to collect the full 16 and a celebratory whitewash.
Raf’s Gnashing of teeth will follow shortly. Thanks for your messages, have a lovely weekend. Bye!
Updated
Farrant doesn’t fully agree with Hartley. “You don’t know till you try them. And Rainford-Brent thinks it is a mind-set problem. “There is no problem with the skill set, but just in pressure situations. Its not that we don’t have the talent, but haven’t got the culture or the spirit that makes us able to take on the Australian.”
"England don't have better players at home"
Alex Hartley: “The feeling is that nothing is going to stop Australia. England spoke about bouncing back but it is Australia’s counter punch that makes them so great. Lots of doom and gloom, the girls already in the dressing-room here.
She’s asked if England have the strength in depth to make wholesale changes after this series. “No, to be honest. I think we need a couple of years to develop young players. Australia are so far ahead when it comes to their domestic cricket. Their second XI might beat England to be honest. We don’t have that that strength in depth.”
Updated
Jon Lewis is doing the post-match stuff: “We’re really disappointed as a group. It was a tough watch. We didn’t play anything like our best cricket, got a lot of work to do before the Test match.”
“In this series, we’ve wanted to be as proactive as we can against the spinners. But the Aussie spinner have bowled incredibly hard, they got on top of us and we haven’t being able to do anything about it.”
The main difference in skills? “I’ve been really impressed with Australia’s bowling unit, backed up by some really athletic fielding. We’ve got a really young bowling attack, who are deveoping cricketers, against a really fine cricket side. We’re a really hard- working cricket team, we’ll go away, regroup and work really hard and look forward to a really exciting Test match in Melbourne.”
Could you have done with more warm-up games? “I think, potentially. It was important for us to get into the Australians early and the first two games we had opportunities to get some points on the board, I felt like the momentum then went with the Australians.”
Do you think you are the man to take the team forward? “Yes I am. We’re a developing cricket team, there are some really good examples of how players have developed. I’ve really enjoyed the job with a really good group of people, just haven’t shown it during this tour.”
Player of the match Beth Mooney outscored England by herself.
“It was probably a little bit harder than we anticipated, thought it was going to be a 180-200 wicket but it slowed own from there.
“I think I’ve been pretty lucky to be given a few different roles during my career, I like being able to offer the selectors different options. Hopefully I’m not warming the spot too much for her.”
And poor Heather Knight, still sweat-soaked from her innings. “Thought we bowled pretty well, an outstanding innings by Mooney. When you lose all those wickets it is hard to catch up.
“I think the pitch is ok, maybe kept a little low, probably lost the momentum. Got to draw the line under the T20s, treat the MCG as a one-off Test match. We haven’t put our batting and bowling together, they’ve won the key moments. A lot of learning to do, we’re obviously gutted.”
Australia win by 72 runs and lead the series 12-0!
England’s worst batting of the series, despite an improved performance in the field. Muddled thinking, under pressure. And a supreme Australian team.
Updated
WICKET! Knight st Mooney b McGrath 40 (England 90 all out) Australia win by 72 runs
Knight dances with devil-may-care, but Mooney is waiting and delivers the final full stop with a flourish.
17th over: England 89-9 (Knight 40, Filer 3) This won’t be England’s lowest score in a T20. Which is something. Knight is batting like a queen here, her troops spreadeagled on the battle ground.
16th over: England 85-9 (Knight 38, Filer 1) England’s previous lowest score in a T20 is 86, at Hove, against Australia in 2015. Not not diss Filer’s batting but, on the brief evidence of Sutherland’s over, Knight is going to have to do the heavy work here.
WICKET! Smith run-out (Perry) 1 (England 82-9)
A super bit of work behind the stumps, a superb bit of work in the covers by Perry, picking up, rolling and throwing in one move, and the diving Smith is out by a chalk line.
15th over: England 82-9 (Knight 36, Filer 0) McGrath brings herself in for the final chapter. Beats the sweeping Smith and Perry gets a deserved run-out.
14th over: England 79-8 (Knight 32, Smith 0) That really was a screamer at backward point, as Ecclestone square cut and the ball looped and seemed to be running away from Voll.
WICKET! Ecclestone c Voll b Schutt 5 (England 77-8)
A fabulous diving catch by Vott, caught over her shoulder on the stretch!
Updated
13th over: England 74-7 (Knight 32, Ecclestone 4) Lovely batting by Knight, carrying the team on her neat shoulders. She sweeps King for four, knocks a couple through the covers and six straight - just past the fielder. I hope that if she does stand down at the end of the series, she follows Joe Root and continues to play and be the backbone of the batting.
12th over: England 59-7 (Knight 17, Ecclestone 4) Ecclestone hoicks into the legside but just between the Australian fielders. A couple of wides from Brown adds to England’s total.
11th over: England 54-7 (Knight 15, Ecclestone 3) Tap-tap, two runs.
“Oh dear,” writes John Starbuck. “The bowling improved somewhat, the fielding by a lot, but the batting is letting England down, mainly because they can’t play spin and are subject to rash stroke choices. Who is there, in England or elsewhere, who could be hired to teach England’s women batters how to not only read and play spinners, but also to ingrain sufficient batting technique and choices properly? Bazball is all very well and admirable in its way, but you have to have plenty of faith in technical ability first. Playing ramp shots and cuts takes an awful lot of practice, even if you have the talent.” Exactly.
10th over: England 52-7 (Knight 14, Ecclestone 1) AUSTRALIA DROP A CATCH SHOCK! Wareham on the boundary inexplicably lets one through her hands. Ecclestone puffs her cheeks in relief after a flay to leg. A couple of singles off Sutherland’s over – and they take DRINKS to prolong the agony.
Andrew Brahm compares Australia’s “carefree abandon” with England’s “reckless abandon.” Yes, reckless, and just muddled. I don’t think you can play Bazball without the right players. You are going to end up with this sort of scoreline against the best.
Updated
9th over: England 50-7 (Knight 13, Ecclestone 1) Wareham has bowled two overs, three for five. Poor Heather Knight. The camera peeks between the bars of her helmet, to an empty face.
WICKET! Dean c King b Wareham 1 (England 48-7)
Dean is totally befuddled by Wareham and sure enough does’t last long, this time top-edging a sweep to square leg. The fifth time Dean has fallen to leg spin this series.
8th over: England 47-6 (Knight 12, Dean 1) Kemp leans back and pulls Darcie Brown for four – a frustration shot but an effective one. Probably the effect of a scrambled brain but she doesn’t then milk a single but goes for another big hit.
WICKET! Kemp c Harris b Brown 5 (England 46-6)
And another. A back-garden back foot waft to mid-off.
7th over: England 41-5 (Knight 11, Kemp 1) “It’s an utter capitulation,” says the Aussie commentator. It could have been worse, as Australia review an lbw decision against Kemp – which would have knocked down the stumps but pitched outside leg.
WICKET! Jones lbw Wareham 0 (England 39-5)
Jones reviews but to no avail. Drops to one knee to ramp, but gets no bat on it and the ball would have hit leg stump.
Updated
WICKET! Wyatt-Hodge c Sutherland b Wareham 17 (England 39-4
Oh dear. Wyatt Hodge doesn’t wait to have a look at Wareham, launches her first ball and is caught at long off.
6th over: England 39-3 (Wyatt-Hodge 17, Knight 10) Knight and Wyatt-Hodge not getting bogged down by despair. Some crisp boundary hitting as Wyatt-Hodge knocks Schutt over cover and Knight pulls with wristy-style.
5th over: England 30-3 (Wyatt-Hodge 12, Knight 6) A gorgeous boundary by Knight, who spins and flays Sutherland to the rope.
4th over: England 23-3 (Wyatt-Hodge 11, Knight 0) A cut, a cover-crunch, Wyatt-Hodge throws herself at Sutherland’s first two balls. But Sciver-Brunt, who hasn’t got going this series, can’t keep her company. A super ball sending her on her way.
“Hi Tanya.” Hello there Jeremy Yapp.
“As an Australian living in England these past 17 years I have kind of drunk the Norman Tebbitt kool-aid and am generally a neutral when these two teams play each other. But after reading Jon Lewis’s comments about Grace Harris, I’ve haven’t wanted the Aussies to win this much since 2005.
“‘I think Grace probably did my job for me, Lewis said. I’ll give her a pat on the back when I see her.
“That’s patronising for sure, but also at little icky, don’t you think?” A bit of both, yes.
WICKET! Sciver-Brunt b Sutherland 1 (England 23-3)
For the fourth time in a row Sciver-Brunt is bowled. Uncharacteristically leaden footwork and the ball scuttles through the gap.
3rd over: England 14-2 (Wyatt-Hodge 2, Sciver-Brunt 1) The rebuilt starts here?
WICKET! Capsey c Mooney b King 6 (England 12-2)
A disgruntled Capsey trudges off after Australia review a caught behind from a wide. Capsey sweeps, snicko says yes, a bottom edge.
Updated
2nd over: England 12-1 (Wyatt-Hodge 1, Capsey 6) Capsey creams four from her first ball, through point with style.
WICKET! Dunkley c Litchefield b Brown 5 (England 5-1)
Darcie Brown strikes with her first ball of the series, as Dunkley launches and Litchfield collects, running back from cover.
Updated
1st over: England 5-0 (Dunkley 5, Wyatt-Hodge 0) At the ground, Raf is hopeful but, as she says, “it’s the hope that kills you.” Dunkley starts as she left off, powerfully, and freely, driving Schutt’s second ball down the ground for four. A juicy square cut deserved runs but was smartly fielded.
The sky is sunset-splendid as the teams come out for the chase.
Updated
The excellent Rainford-Brent and Farrant are hopeful: England will have to play spin better, capitalise on not having to face Kim Garth, only lose one wicket in the power play and run well between the wickets a la Mooney. Easy.
England will need 163 to win
Much better from England – more vigour in the field, sparky spin bowling, no dollies dropped. But Australia still ahead of the average women’s winning score here, thanks to the irrepressible Mooney. Time to grab a quick cup of coffee, back soon.
Updated
20th over: Australia 162-5 (Mooney 94, McGrath 1) No boundaries but astonishing running between the wickets by Australia. Mooney, red faced with exertion, is still sprinting every hint of a misfield. Three twos in the over. Mooney finishes 93 not out, carrying the team, with 20 overs of wicket-keeping to follow.
Updated
19th over: Australia 152-5 (Mooney 86, McGrath 0)Well bowled Linsey Smith. England chipping away, and holding their catches. What can Australia take from Ecclestone’s final over?
WICKET! Sutherland c Sciver-Brunt b Smith 3 (Australia 152-5)
Sciver-Brunt had just failed to get to a potential catch the ball before, but this time makes no mistake, taking the ball over her head with both hands.
Updated
18th over: Australia 143-4 (Mooney 79, Sutherland 1) A thoughtful over by Kemp after being whalloped in her first, gets rid of the dangerous Harris with just a wide to spoil things.
WICKET! Harris c Capsey b Kemp 11 (Australia 139-4)
Harris wraps a post-Christmas gift and delivers it limply to short fine leg.
Updated
17th over: Australia 136-3 (Mooney 76, Harris 10) Harris flat-bats Ecclestone for SIX, as you do. Then Mooney pulls square for four, past the fielder who Ecclestone signals with some disdain is out of position. 13 from the over.
Updated
16th over: Australia 123-3 (Mooney 71, Harris 2) Just four singles and a wicket from that over – and Ecclestone has two overs left in the bag. Interesting!
WICKET! Perry c Kemp b Dean 12 (Australia 120-3)
Dean gets her reward as the frustrated Perry dances, drives, and is caught by Kemp at cover, who had just been ushered into position.
15th over: Australia 119-2 (Mooney 63, Perry 7) Interesting chat about the different release points of the smaller Smith and the taller Ecclestone, and the batting challenges that presents. Just one boundary, swept elegantly by the irrepressible Mooney, but ten from the over.
14th over: Australia 109-2 (Mooney 63, Perry 7) A more expensive over from Capsey’s third. Mooney dispatches a full toss for four and another wafted over point. Feels as if she’s ready to press the accelerator. If Australia are to make the magic 150, they’re looking at seven an over from here.
Fifty for Beth Mooney!
13th over: Australia 89-2 (Mooney 49, Perry 7) Dean, as England’s spinner tighten their grip. Five singles, and a wide – but she can’t stop Mooney from reaching another T20 fifty. She’s held the Australian batting together this series. Incidentally, 149 is the average first-innings winning score here.
Updated
12th over: Australia 89-2 (Mooney 47, Perry 5) Nearly two in a row as England review an lbw decision against Mooney. Ecclestone grimaces and apologises to Knight – you could be wasting one there, Skip. And she’s right, as it just pitches outside leg stump. Then Perry, who hasn’t found her mojo this series, snicks past the gloves of Jones for four. Ecclestone covers her eyes in frustration.
WICKET! Litchfield b Ecclestone 12 (Australia 83-2)
Litchfield never really got going, and loses her stumps trying to up the ante with a sweep.
Updated
11th over: Australia 83-1 (Mooney 46, Litchfield 12) Nat Sciver-Brunt restarts after the break. A handful of singles and a quarter of a chance as Litchfield, who is hitting it hard, lofts the ball fractionally under the hands of the sprinting Wyatt-Hodge in her bright orange spikes at deep midwicket.
Just over 7000 here today, so although the vast high stands are unpopulated, there’s a nice crowd bunched in the lower tier.
10th over: Australia 76-1 (Mooney 44, Litchfield 7) Unlucky Capsey – as first Mooney lofts her high and just out of the reach of the running Charlie Dean at long off, and then top-edges a reverse-sweep which lands between three shall-we-shan’t we fielders. Three dot balls and nice drift. They take DRINKS with England more than competitive, but Australia with wickets in hand.
9th over: Australia 68-1 (Mooney 42, Litchfield 2) Pace returns, with Lauren Filer. Mooney threads her through backward point for that elusive boundary. And another, wow, as she calmly scoops a full ball and sends it looping behind her.
“Now that the burden of not drawing the Ashes has been lifted, we may see the Aussie girls play with a more carefree abandon,” writes Dawg.
“More carefree abandon?!”
8th over: Australia 56-1 (Mooney 32, Litchfield 0) Alex Capsey, in for Maia Bouchier, does the business! For the first time this series, that I’ve seen, Australia are straining for runs.
WICKET! Voll c Wyatt-Hodge b Capsey 23 (Australia 56-1)
Pressure tells! After 29 balls without a boundary, Voll can’t resist. Shuffles and sweeps – but to the safest pair of hands in the team, Wyatt-Hodge, at deep midwicket.
Updated
7th over: Australia 53-0 (Mooney 30, Voll 22) Time for the big gun as Sophie Ecclestone comes on to turn the screw. No boundaries yet again, but nine picked up by the enterprising Aussies.
And hello there John Starbuck! “In the preamble you write ‘if only (England) can hold their catches’. That must be one of the biggest ‘if only’s there’s ever been. Not that I wouldn’t be delighted if England can get a result this time around, but Hope is sitting very disconsolately in a corner.” Famous last words, but this has been the best start I’ve seen.
6th over: Australia 44-0 (Mooney 26, Voll 18) Australia being forced to improvise here against Dean, just five singles again. The Australian bench chew their nails in concentration.
Our woman on the ground, Raf Nicholson has been in touch. “They’ve just had the millionth fan of the international summer through the gate - which means they’ve got over 7500 fans in. Great effort! There’s also a trumpeter playing Jerusalem so it looks like we’ve got a Barmy Army showing.”
Updated
5th over: Australia 39-0 (Mooney 23, Voll 16) Smith again, continues to restrict Australia. No fuss approach, not much space to think between balls. The second over in a row with no boundaries.
4th over: Australia 34-0 (Mooney 19, Voll 15) Knight ringing the changes, as Charlie Dean joins the roll call of bowlers. Sunglasses on. She stops the boundary count, with six picked up with this and that.
3rd over: Australia 28-0 (Mooney 17, Voll 11 ) Three dots balls from Lauren Filer, bustling in, hair tied tightly in a bun, light blue nail varnish. But then she delivers a short fat one which Voll tucks into with gusto. Another four driven with pin-point accuracy and great elegance next ball.
Updated
2nd over: Australia 19-0 (Mooney 17, Voll 2 ) Three successive fours from Freya Kemp’s first over as Mooney tucks into a couple of full tosses and throws out airy drive. Not the parsimoniousness Knight is looking for.
Updated
1st over: Australia 6-0 (Mooney, 5, Voll 1 ) Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith, veteran of three summers in the Big Bash, starts things off to the accompaniment of the Barmy Army – Jerusalem blaring out for the first time this series. A leading edge from the first ball, and six ploughed from the over.
Andy Bull hits the nail on the head here with his assesment of how things have been going –
and with just a minute or two to go till play starts, the Australians are just walking out to the middle.
The stattos have been digging into why the disparity between the two teams has been so big and have picked up on batting against spin: with England averaging 13 and Australia in the twenties.
Meanwhile England coach Jon Lewis sails blithely on, despite the brickbats.
A interesting choice to blame the weather on Australia’s greater athleticism. It might hold for the general population, but not really for professional athletes.
Updated
Australia XI
Australia XI: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
England XI
England XI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (capt), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Filer
Australia win the toss and BAT
Everything is running for Australia. “It’s a lovely wicket out there,” McGrath says “We’ve committed to a game style.” She’s playing at home, with lots of family in the crowd and is “so excited.” One change for Australia - Darcie Brown replaces Kim Garth
Heather Knight continues to put on a brave face. “We chased really well the other night so not too disappointed to chase tonight. I loved the way we fought with the bat.” Three changes for England – Linsey Smith, Alice Capsey and Lauren Filer replace Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier and Sarah Glenn.
Updated
Alex Hartley, the subject of her own media storm over the last few days after Sophie Ecclestone refused to give her an interview, is standing in the hot sun and reports short boundaries square and a bit of grass on the wicket.
Preamble
Good morning! Roll along we must in this multi-format Ashes series, the spoils already Australia’s, with England yet to get a point on the board.
Just six points remain to be collected – four in the pink-ball Test, and two from today’s game, the final T20 in Adelaide.
Tahlia McGrath’s side haven’t hidden their desire for a whitewash, but an improved performance in the second T20 should give England hope. If only they can hold their catches….
Time for a quick cup of tea, play starts at 8.15GMT, 645pm in Adelaide. Do join us on the OBO sofa.
