Here’s Raf Nicholson’s report from day three at the MCG:
That’s all from us, thanks to Martin for helming the earlier shift and to you for your company and correspondence. The indomitable duo of Aldred and Howcroft will be your guides to what could be the final day of the women’s Ashes tomorrow. Do join us for the last rites… Goodbye!
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The day belongs to Australia and to Annabel Sutherland. She resumed her innings on 24 when play started in the early afternoon and finished an hour before the close with 163 off 258 balls, notching up her third Test century with some wonderful strokeplay.
We keep saying it, but she was given two lives by England, Danni Wyatt-Hodge shelled an easy chance and wicketkeeper Amy Jones couldn’t cling on to a much tougher one at shin height behind the stumps, Sophie Ecclestone was the unlucky bowler on both occasions. Not that the left-arm spinner didn’t have butterfingers either, she shelled two simple chances at slip in the afternoon and early evening.
Australia will bat on for a bit on day three and then set about routing England one last time to complete the whitewash, you’ll join us for that, won’t you?
STUMPS: Australia 422-5 (leads by 249 runs)
Beth Mooney will have a sleepless night! I think she thought there was another over to come but the clock had ticked round to the hour mark. McGrath plinks one over the covers and Mooney comes back for two runs to deprive herself of the strike and the chance to get a Test century this evening. Maybe she’s just the ultimate team player? She walks off unbeaten with a smile on her face.
England trudge off, it’s been a chastening, nay – embarrassing day for them. Australia have played well but Knight’s side have spilled so many chances, seven by my counting. They’ll get whitewashed tomorrow and the post mortem will begin, it won’t be pretty.
Hats off to Australia though, Sutherland and Mooney in particular punished England’s sloppiness and deserve their place* on the MCG Honours Board.
*Beth Mooney will get there in the morning, I’m sure of it.
120th over: Australia 422-5 (Mooney 97, McGrath 7)
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119th over: Australia 417-5 (Mooney 96, McGrath 6) Mooney moves onto 96 but there’s only one over left in the day now! Can she get there?
118th over: Australia 414-5 (Mooney 93, McGrath 6) Mooney gets a single off Filer’s first ball but is then stranded down the non-strikers end for the rest of the over… shades of Steve Waugh at the SCG in 2003 here all of a sudden!
117th over: Australia 413-5 (Mooney 92, McGrath 6) There are four overs left in the day including this one, Mooney doesn’t have the strike and won’t mind a jot as McGrath unfurls a beautiful cover drive for four off Mooney.
116th over: Australia 408-5 (Mooney 91, McGrath 2) Beth Mooney might run out of time to get three figures this evening, she might need to get a wiggle on if she wants to bring it up under lights. McGrath drives powerfully to get off the mark, the ball whistling past NSB in the covers.
115th over: Australia 405-5 (Mooney 90, McGrath 0) Ellyse Perry is resting that sore hip so here comes Tahlia McGrath. England are hardly bounding around after the wicket, let’s just leave it at that.
WICKET! Gardner c Filer b Ecclestone 44 (Australia 405-5)
England hold a catch (just!)
Ash Gardner gets a top edge off Ecclestone and it loops to Lauren Filer at square leg. It’s the easiest dolly you could ever wish for after your team has spilled 7 or 8 chances in the day… but Filer slips as she takes the catch and the ball nearly slips out as she lands on the turf. But it is taken! A catch! England have taken a catch. (just)
Hang on a minute, you are simply not going to believe this…
114th over: Australia 402-4 (Mooney 90, Gardner 42) Shot! Gardner cuts Filer away to the fence to bring up the Aussie 400.
113th over: Australia 395-4 (Mooney 87, Gardner 37) My tv coverage drops out but I can see Australia have added three runs.
112th over: Australia 392-4 (Mooney 86, Gardner 36) Lauren Filer comes back on and Ash Gardner is surprised by a short ball, she tries to turn it to leg and gets a leading edge that loops back to Filer… DROPPED. A tough chance but it goes begging, Filer stretches every sinew to try and pluck the catch in her follow through but only manages to get the fingers to it, sometimes they stick and sometimes they don’t. Ahem. A maiden over is little comfort.
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111th over: Australia 391-4 (Mooney 86, Gardner 36) Two more singles, Mooney’s square drive for one brings her her highest Test score.
yeah, not bored of posting the MCG at night ✨ pic.twitter.com/cWww9IXKyd
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 31, 2025
In all of this, won’t someone think of the ECB’s social media people
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110th over: Australia 389-4 (Mooney 85, Gardner 35) Another couple added as this partnership moves into the sixties. There was some chat about an Aussie declaration this evening but it doesn’t look as that is going to happen, Australia are steadily accumulating and will have the best part of two days to polish England off over the weekend.
109th over: Australia 387-4 (Mooney 84, Gardner 34) If Beth Mooney does get to three figures in this Test then she will join an elite club, only three women have scored centuries in all three international formats – Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont and Laura Wolvaardt. How is there not an Aussie in there already!?
108th over: Australia 383-4 (Mooney 82, Gardner 32) Mooney glides with velveteen hands and picks up four down to third. Classy shot, she’s on for a ton this evening, 18 more runs needed.
107th over: Australia 377-4 (Mooney 76, Gardner 32) Mooney swats an Ecclestone short ball away to the square boundary and marches towards her inevitable century. She was out of sorts early on and was put down a couple of times but she’s been a model of professional grit and determination for the last few hours. She would love a Test century to go with her five international white ball tons too.
106th over: Australia 372-4 (Mooney 74, Gardner 31) Lauren Bell into the attack, Australia bring up the 200 lead and then have the pleasure of seeing one ball jag sharply off a length from Bell. There is something in this pitch, England have created chances…
105th over: Australia 368-4 (Mooney 71, Gardner 28) Maybe the seagulls are there to help? They could be benevolent seagulls. They’ve got their whites on. I just watched a clip from ‘The Birds’ and decided it was too horrible to post, especially at 10am here in England.
This’ll do instead.
104th over: Australia 366-4 (Mooney 70, Gardner 27) Sciver-Brunt continues and two singles are added. Australia stretch their lead to 196 runs. In more ominous signs for England, there’s a huge gaggle of seagulls (not sure of the collective noun…?) encroaching on the wicket. All a bit Hitchcock-ian. Does that make Heather Knight Tippi Hedren?
103rd over: Australia 364-4 (Mooney 69, Gardner 27) Sophie Ecclestone is summoned for the first over after lunch, can she atone for those spillages and pick up a handful of quick wickets? Not this over, Gardner rocks back and plays a brutal cut shot for four.
102nd over: Australia 358-4 (Mooney 69, Gardner 21) A single off Sciver-Brunt. Time for a drink.
England right now:
101st over: Australia 357-4 (Mooney 69, Gardner 20) A maiden stitched together by Ryana MacDonald-Gay. You’re still thinking about that dropped catch aren’t you. I am. Bad news and irrelevant news. I’d bet my kidneys that Sophie Ecclestone is.
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100th over: Australia 357-4 (Mooney 69, Gardner 20) This is really tough to watch now. Ash Gardner scythes away to point and Sophia Dunkley mis-fields, the ball ricocheting off her four four.
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OH MY EFFING GEE. ANOTHER DROPPED CHANCE! That’s really tough on young Ryana MacDonald-Gay as she finds the edge of Gardner’s blade after probing away dutifully in this spell, the regulation edge goes at a nice height to Sophie Ecclestone at first slip and she spills the chance. The England players don’t know where to look. It is painful, woeful and humiliating.
Gardner then flashes the last ball away for four. It’s a cruel, cruel game sometimes.
99th over: Australia 352-4 (Mooney 68, Gardner 16)
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98th over: Australia 346-4 (Mooney 67, Gardner 12) The game has lulled slightly since Sutherland and Mooney started the session with sprightly running and some crunching boundaries. Sciver-Brunt and MacDonald-Gay are bowling a stump to stump line and England have dried the runs up a little.
97th over: Australia 344-4 (Mooney 66, Gardner 11) Two more added by Australia off MacDonald-Gay. The word is that Ellyse Perry’s hip injury might prevent her from batting in this innings. Small mercies for England.
96th over: Australia 342-4 (Mooney 65, Gardner 11) It is raining again over in Galle as Australia’s men are on top and looking to press their advantage over Sri Lanka. There’s still two days after this one for them to force the result. Rob Smyth is covering that one and is the ideal wet weather OBO sage.
England might be wishing for the sweet release of a lengthy rain delay but the skies are clear in Melbourne. Nat Sciver-Brunt is on for a spell and the Aussies lead by 172 and counting.
Ground getting covered again… because this is coming over the back of the pavilion @SEN_Cricket #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/49Ykl3V1u1
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 31, 2025
95th over: Australia 340-4 (Mooney 64, Gardner 10) Nice over from MacDonald-Gay, she beats Mooney on the outside edge and Amy Jones shows quick reflexes stood up behind the stumps. The TV camera lingers on Jon Lewis watching on pensively in the England changing room, penny for 'em…
94th over: Australia 338-4 (Mooney 63, Gardner 9) Classy! What a lovely shot that is from Ash Gardner. Filer is a smidge too full and is met with a flowing straight blade that pumps the ball back through mid on. That was so sweetly timed, Beth Mooney had to do a quick jig to get out of the way at the non-strikers end – resembling someone in a pub beer garden who has just stepped on a spaniel’s tail.
93rd over: Australia 331-4 (Mooney 62, Gardner 4) MacDonald-Gay has bowled well, her sparky performance has been one slight ray of hope for England. She blots her copybook with a full toss though and Gardner whips it away to the square boundary with Swiss-clock timing.
92nd over: Australia 326-4 (Mooney 61, Gardner 0) There’s a brief delay as Filer changes her boots for a pair with longer spikes. The lights are taking full effect at the MCG and there could be a bit of evening dew about. It is hard to tell empirically from 10,503.55 miles away.
91st over: Australia 324-4 (Mooney 60, Gardner 0) As Sutherland departs, Ash Gardner arrives. This Aussie batting card is relentless. The lead is up to 156 runs. There’s some chatter on the tv commentary that Australia might be thinking of clattering for an hour and then having a dart at a dejected England under lights with the ball. I think that is a great shout, the way this day is going they could have five English wickets at the close and the match more or less done and dusted.
WICKET! Sutherland b MacDonald-Gay 163 (Australia 324-4)
Bowled her! Lovely in-ducker from Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Sutherland lines up a booming straight drive but a lack of footwork does for her and the off stump is knocked back. A brief glimpse of joy for England but what a knock from Sutherland, she walks off and soaks up the applause as the crowd at the MCG rise to the local girl. She’s set this game up for Australia.
90th over: Australia 321-3 (Sutherland 161, Mooney 59) Salt, meet Wound. Filer bowls a decent over, probing just back of a length, Sutherland then lashes the hands at the fifth, getting a meaty edge that flies away in the vacant cordon as England only have one slip in place. Same again! The next ball is a carbon copy, length ball, kitchen sink from Sutherland and four more wide of first slip.
89th over: Australia 312-3 (Sutherland 153, Mooney 58) Sutherland spanks a Bell short ball over midwicket and hustles for three to bring up her 150! What a fine knock this has been, truly dominant. She gives a slight wave of the bat but nothing too demonstrative, there are more runs to be scored. England’s fielders clap wearily, they know there’s more pain to be endured out there over the next few hours.
88th over: Australia 305-3 (Sutherland 148, Mooney 57) Crunch! Filer is too short and wide and Sutherland pounces, cutting away to the square boundary with a flashing blade. She hit that really hard, it echoed like a judge’s gavel being smacked in an aircraft hanger. Very satisfying.
87th over: Australia 299-3 (Sutherland 143, Mooney 56) Australia approach three hundred, they are basically hitting the ball to the fielders and still taking the single. Beth Mooney is pumped, she chastises Sutherland for not being on her toes to sneak an extra run after another misfield. Relentless. Ruthless.
86th over: Australia 293-3 (Sutherland 141, Mooney 52) Fifty to the redoubtable Beth Mooney, she’s an absolute machine and I can probably call her a colleague due to the fact she’s been writing an Ashes column for us these past few weeks. She’s talked about the Aussie’s being ruthless, they are grinding England into the Melbourne dirt currently. Seven runs pilfered off Lauren Filer, quick singles and scampered twos. Death by a thousand strokes for Knight and co.
85th over: Australia 286-3 (Sutherland 138, Mooney 48) Lauren Bell starts with a shunt down the leg side that is flicked away by Mooney wide of Amy Jones for four. The Aussies have been rollocking along at eight an over since the second new ball and the first over after tea is no different. The lead is up to 117 runs and England need to dig deep here, they need to win this session and bowl Australia to have any hope at all of getting something out of this match… and series.
Here come the players for the evening session, the lights are starting to take effect at the MCG. Realistically this game is sliding out of view for England and they are staring down the barrel of an Ashes whitewash and all the implications that will entail. The wheels haven’t just come off for Heather Knight’s side, they’ve rolled down the hill, into the sea and been churned up by the remorseless propellors of a hulking Australian vessel.
Thanks Martin, hello all. I’m just going to leave this here and say no more:
The disappointment clings like a shroud. Some element of it will stay with her forever. Etched in her psyche, felt in her bones. The agony of a dropped catch can never fully be forgotten.
Cricket and failure are familiar bedfellows but there’s a particular kind of griping wretchedness that accompanies a spilled chance. It’s the worst feeling to endure on a cricket field. Forget embarrassingly expensive, wide, no-ball or boundary-blighted overs as a bowler. The ignominy of a golden duck or the heartbreak of a dismissal on 99 for a batter, a dropped catch is the worst.
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Annabel Sutherland continued to impress across the second session as she reached a third Test hundred – in just her ninth knock in the format – to pile on the pain for England. The all-rounder led the way whether in partnership with skipper Alyssa Healy or the in-form Beth Mooney, as Australia put on another 124 runs while giving up only one more scalp in the two hours.
England came out after tea full of guts and guile even if they were perhaps fortunate to pick up the wicket of Healy with a lbw decision that could have gone either way. But the tourists were left to rue yet more dropped catches and horror misfields that gifted Mooney in particular several lives and leaves Australia in a great position to build a commanding lead after the break.
Thanks a lot for following along across an entertaining couple of sessions. James Wallace is up n atom over in England to guide us through the final couple of hours.
Annabel Sutherland loves Test cricket 😍
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 31, 2025
The hometown star brings up another century in whites with a boundary @hcltech #PlayoftheDay #Ashes pic.twitter.com/AmiXHkDIiQ
84th over: Australia 278-3 (Sutherland 135, Mooney 43) Mooney and Sutherland have little trouble working singles off Filer’s shorter gear but Australia’s keeper heads to the dinner break with a spring in her step after a cracking cover drive.
83rd over: Australia 272-3 (Sutherland 134, Mooney 38) Australia push beyond a 100-run lead as Sutherland and Mooney also take their partnership to triple figures. Bell tries varying her length but both batters are punishing anything near their pads, as Mooney flicks for a two then a single, and Sutherland finishes the over with a boundary at deep square.
82nd over: Australia 264-3 (Sutherland 130, Mooney 35) Lauren Filer is second to take the new ball but as though Mooney hasn’t had enough luck in this knock, now a leading edge pops up and lands safely between three England fielders. Sutherland clubs a pull past mid-on for four but Filer is able to get the new ball swinging.
81st over: Australia 257-3 (Sutherland 124, Mooney 34) Lauren Bell grasps the new cherry in her hand with one slip and two gullies in place but, as England surely feared, the Australian duo take an immediate liking to the harder ball. Sutherland smacks a drive through cover to the rope then adds three off the back foot to the same region. Mooney picks up the pace with her own stylish drive to the boundary.
80th over: Australia 245-3 (Sutherland 117, Mooney 29) Sutherland can’t find a gap on the off-side so turns to leg to flick a fuller delivery to midwicket for a single. Mooney hits Ecclestone away with a similar stroke as Bouchier saves a run by cutting the ball off before it reaches the rope. The new ball is due as England search for a way to shake up this partnership.
79th over: Australia 241-3 (Sutherland 116, Mooney 26) A half-hearted appeal for lbw is spreads across the MCG perhaps as much to liven up England as in hope of dismissing Mooney with the ball pitching outside leg.
78th over: Australia 238-3 (Sutherland 114, Mooney 26) Australia pick up a pair of singles off Ecclestone who might be ready for a second spell of the day with the new ball very nearly due.
77th over: Australia 236-3 (Sutherland 113, Mooney 25) Ominous signs for England as Mooney is now looking almost as comfortable as Sutherland, starting the over with a clip for two through midwicket and finishing it with a square drive that deserves more than just a single.
Would anyone expect (or suggest) Australia to declare before stumps today in the hope of snatching a wicket or two, or should they continue to pile on a huge total that ideally takes the game away from England?
76th over: Australia 233-3 (Sutherland 113, Mooney 22) Good fortune is smiling on Sutherland as an inside edge is just thick enough to bounce away for a single then she survives a ripper from Ecclestone that drifts in, spins hard and bounces high over the bat.
Matters on the field might have taken a turn for the worst for England over the past half an hour or so, with the number of dropped catches and messy misfields now mounting up. Thankfully Em Jackson has some more cheery news and a healthy dose of sarcasm to pass on from their homeland.
“As the Aussies race past England’s lacklustre total, I have to wonder how many more runs England may have put on in the knowledge that Birmingham City FC’s owners have invested in The Hundred. Birmingham City FC, that world-leading sports franchise who are [checks notes] top by 2 points of the third tier of the English league pyramid & who have won fewer trophies, in the last 2 decades, than the West Indies (& the same number as Sri Lanka), both of whom have had nothing like the resources of BCFC financially. It makes you think … ”
75th over: Australia 231-3 (Sutherland 112, Mooney 21) A rough over for England as MacDonald-Gay drifts too far down leg to beat Mooney and Jones behind the stumps to give up four byes, then a misfield from Filer gifts Sutherland three more.
74th over: Australia 223-3 (Sutherland 109, Mooney 20) Mooney remains busy at the crease against Ecclestone, working the off-spinner away to different parts of the field. She finally finds a gap off the back foot through cover, as Sutherland shows how it’s done with a drive for two across the same region.
73rd over: Australia 220-3 (Sutherland 107, Mooney 19) MacDonald-Gay toils away to Mooney but it is surely hard after seeing a couple of gilt-edged opportunities go to waste off her own bowling. But the young seamer continues to impress with another tidy over, only giving up a single to mid-off.
72nd over: Australia 219-3 (Sutherland 107, Mooney 18) Australia are motoring along now with Sutherland in command and Mooney already on her fourth life. England would be well aware that Sutherland has only been dismissed once from the three times she has passed fifty in a Test, and that was only after she reached 210 against South Africa a little under a year ago.
Hundred for Annabel Sutherland
The Australian all-rounder hits her third century in just her sixth Test and brings it up with a classy cut through point. It’s Sutherland’s second ton against England after reaching three figures at Trent Bridge 18 months ago and this time has returned to haunt them with the milestone coming off 193 deliveries with one six and 14 boundaries.
71st over: Australia 211-3 (Sutherland 99, Mooney 18) Beth Mooney is dropped for a third time and England are all at sea. MacDonald-Gay targets Mooney outside off-stump with a field set for just the occasion but Maia Bouchier drops a dolly that flew straight towards her midriff. Mooney can barely believe it and you have to feel for the England bowlers who have been solid throughout.
70th over: Australia 205-3 (Sutherland 99, Mooney 12) Sutherland races through the 90s to the brink of her third Test century with a paid of boundaries off Ecclestone. The first is a gift with a misfield at cover in another sign that the wheels might be falling off for England, but the second is all class as Sutherland rocks back and pulls to the rope. The 23-year-old will be left to ponder the one remaining run over a drinks break.
69th over: Australia 197-3 (Sutherland 91, Mooney 12) Oh no, another grassed catch and this time Ecclestone returns the favour to MacDonald-Gay in the worst possible way. Mooney slashes off the back foot but takes an edge that flies wide of Ecclestone as the only slip in the cordon. The off-spinner mis-times her leaning dive to the left and barely gets two hands around the ball as it bounces away. Once again, Sutherland makes England pay with a crafty boundary to third off the next delivery. If only England had held a few of their chances today, we could have a very different sort of contest. If only …
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68th over: Australia 191-3 (Sutherland 86, Mooney 11) DROPPED! Mooney drives in the air but MacDonald-Gay can’t grasp the chance at cover. England are already paying the price for dropping Sutherland earlier today so they can ill-afford to offer the in-form Mooney multiple lives as well. Sutherland piles on the pain when stepping down the pitch to crunch Ecclestone back over her head for four.
67th over: Australia 184-3 (Sutherland 82, Mooney 8) Sciver-Brunt to Sutherland and the Australian picks up a couple when finding a gap through cover.
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66th over: Australia 182-3 (Sutherland 80, Mooney 8) Mooney tends to be comfortable with using her feet against spin and pounces on a shorter ball from Ecclestone to flat bat it from outside off to the deep midwicket rope.
Mooney is already showing signs of carrying her form from the T20 leg of the series into the Test, and is even on track to back up comments in her regular column for Guardian Australia when talking about Australia’s greater goal at the MCG.
65th over: Australia 176-3 (Sutherland 79, Mooney 3) Beth Mooney gets off the mark with a backfoot drive through cover and adds another from a clip off the pads. Sutherland then opens up with the shot of the day so far as she steps down the pitch and clobbers Sciver-Brunt back over mid-off for two runs! The lofted shot was slightly mis-timed but Sutherland’s power did all the damage.
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64th over: Australia 171-3 (Sutherland 77, Mooney 0) Ecclestone is back with plenty of energy after a slightly extended break. Or perhaps it’s the change of ends that is working for the off-spinner. But Sutherland has picked up where she left off before the break even in a maiden over.
63rd over: Australia 171-3 (Sutherland 77, Mooney 0) Sciver-Brunt works away again to Sutherland with a tight line as Australia’s scoring has dried up. Sutherland eventually picks up a single with a chip on the leg side.
WICKET! Healy lbw b Ecclestone 34 (Australia 170-3)
Sophie Ecclestone returns to the attack from the opposite end that she owned in the first session. She takes a few deliveries to get the fingers warmed up but soon has the ball crashing into Healy’s front pad. The umpire raises a finger but Healy reviews immediately. The ball looks to have deflected off the inside edge onto the pad but the DRS decides that the timing between each contact isn’t conclusive and ball tracking shows that it was taking out the top of middle. The finest of margins on that one as it essentially comes down to the field umpire’s call.
62nd over: Australia 170-3 (Sutherland 76, Mooney 0)
61st over: Australia 170-2 (Sutherland 76, Healy 34) Heather Knight asks for the ball to be checked for being out of shape and seems shocked as it passes through the rings. Sciver-Brunt has found a testing length now as she bowls a maiden to Sutherland.
60th over: Australia 170-2 (Sutherland 76, Healy 34) Scores are level other for the not insignificant fact that Australia still have eight first-innings wickets up their sleeve. Healy opens up the face of the bat to angle a wider ball to the rope at third before Bell responds with an inswinging yorker. Bell drops shorter with a bouncer that is almost a slower ball as Healy quickly readjusts her cut shot to pick up a single through cover.
59th over: Australia 162-2 (Sutherland 74, Healy 28) The Australian pair are largely untroubled against Sciver-Brunt’s medium pace. They start the over with three singles off the back foot before a trio of off-cutters to Sutherland.
58th over: Australia 159-2 (Sutherland 73, Healy 26) Sutherland sets off for a sneaky single after a nudge to Sciver-Brunt at mid-on as a sharp throw takes out the stumps. It’s close but the batter is saved by a well-timed dive across the crease. England will be pleased with any lift in intensity and pressure in the field. Healy adds a pair of singles, the first from a composed cut and the next clipped off her hip.
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57th over: Australia 156-2 (Sutherland 72, Healy 24) Sophie Ecclestone is given a breather after bowling from this end throughout the entire first session. Nat Sciver-Brunt comes into the attack for the first time today and starts with a neat maiden to Sutherland.
56th over: Australia 156-2 (Sutherland 72, Healy 24) Bell has been less threatening to the right-handers than she was when angling the ball across left-hander Litchfield and Australia are able to ease into the second session. Healy clips off her pads for a single the Sutherland picks a gap through cover to add one more.
Legs and arms are rested, bellies are full and Lauren Bell is ready to get us under way in the second session as she prepares to bowl to Alyssa Healy with Australia 16 runs short of England’s first innings total of 170 but with eight wickets in hand.
Peter Warrington was following along yesterday and is back with his own thoughts on Australia’s selection for this Test as well as our reporter’s view from the MCG.
“I think Geoff Lemon articulated exactly the selection issues I rose in the comments/blog yesterday. The fact that we can select weirdly or poorly and still win doesn’t really sit well with me; consistency of process and selectorial transparency and justice are important building blocks. Unsurprisingly, I thought it was one of Geoff’s best pieces!”
Paul Barnes has been in touch to dispute some arguably loose language in today’s OBO.
“You say ‘Australia have selected an especially deep batting line-up stacked with supposed all-rounders.’ Really? Would you care to name a ‘supposed all-rounder’ and the batting or bowling figures that make them ‘supposed’. Healy and Mooney’s bowling figures, perhaps. Or Ellyse Perry doesn’t bowl much any more. Clearly not up standard …. Perhaps the 11’s batting?’
You’re right that Perry is one now just hanging on to the “all-rounder” tag even if injury forced her from the field before she had an opportunity to bowl yesterday. But Perry has only bowled in a single T20 across this series so far. Tahlia McGrath has bowled in more matches but still only sent down less than six overs across the series which, to me, seems a curiously low number for a player named to bat at No 8.
Geoff Lemon took issue with some of Australia’s selection decisions even if they were largely untroubled on day one of this Test.
Another day, another session that Australia can claim as their own. The hosts piled on 98 runs for the loss of one wicket as Lauren Bell got the better of a one-on-one battle with Phoebe Litchfield to dismiss the opener for 45. Sophie Ecclestone bowled unchanged through the session without any luck as England failed to grasp several chances early in the day before Australia’s batters built a pair of ominous partnerships.
Annabel Sutherland will resume on 71 and Australia skipper Alyssa Healy is undefeated on 23, though there are still question marks over whether Ellyse Perry will bat in this innings due to a hip injury. She might not be needed unless England can quickly find a way through Australia’s lengthy batting line-up and prevent them taking a commanding first-innings lead.
55th over: Australia 154-2 (Sutherland 71, Healy 23) Sutherland dances down the pitch to drive Ecclestone but gets under the ball a touch too much as it is airbound through cover until out of danger on the way to the rope. The right-hander sweeps a fuller delivery behind backward square for four more as the clock ticks over for the break.
54th over: Australia 146-2 (Sutherland 63, Healy 23) Filer plucks away short of a length that allows each batter to drive and cut away for a single. The England quick goes around the wicket but sends the ball too wide as Sutherland punches a single and Healy drives sublimely through cover for two more.
53rd over: Australia 141-2 (Sutherland 61, Healy 20) A quality over from Ecclestone, her best for quite some time in a neverending spell. The off-spinner raps Healy on the pads with one that stayed straighter and England send the not-out decision off for a second opinion within milliseconds of their time running out. They would have been better off waiting slightly longer as replays clearly show the ball taking a thick inside edge off Healy’s bat. Well, that review was wasted. Ecclestone follows up immediately with a jaffa that drifts across Healy, spins hard and barely passes the outside edge. A maiden full of action.
52nd over: Australia 141-2 (Sutherland 61, Healy 20) Lauren Filer returns with England increasingly desperate to snap this partnership before the late-lunch / early-tea break. The field is set for more chin music to Sutherland but the first delivery is too high and wide to be a concern to the set batter. Sutherland sees off the rest of the over of what can only be termed “short stuff”. Maiden.
51st over: Australia 140-2 (Sutherland 61, Healy 20) Ecclestone to Healy and the Australian skipper is trying to work the angles to find an easy single. She eventually does off a fuller delivery that Healy clips to midwicket. Sutherland adds another single off her pads.
50th over: Australia 138-2 (Sutherland 60, Healy 19) Heather Knight backs MacDonald-Gay with another over after the young seamer was far too loose a few minutes ago. She is tidy enough this time but the Australia pair make the most of anything drifting onto their pads for three singles.
49th over: Australia 135-2 (Sutherland 59, Healy 17) Healy guides the first ball of the over down to third for a single as Ecclestone then targets the stumps with the next five deliveries to Sutherland.
48th over: Australia 134-2 (Sutherland 59, Healy 16) Sutherland is on the charge with a pair of punishing boundaries. MacDonald-Gay loses her line and the set batter flicks the first off her pads to the rope at fine leg, then dispatches a wider delivery down the leg side slightly squarer.
Fifty for Annabel Sutherland
47th over: Australia 125-2 (Sutherland 51, Healy 15) Annabel Sutherland brings up her half-century with a classy cover drive to the boundary. The all-rounder reaches the mark off 107 balls with one six and five fours as she builds on her formidable Test record that already includes two tons.
46th over: Australia 121-2 (Sutherland 47, Healy 15) A tidier over from MacDonald-Gay as she gives Healy no room to leave the Australia skipper defending on the front foot. Maiden over.
45th over: Australia 121-2 (Sutherland 47, Healy 15) Ecclestone has Healy playing cautiously until finally pitching the final ball of the over a touch short. Healy pulls it away for a single.
44th over: Australia 120-2 (Sutherland 47, Healy 14) Bell is at her best in short and sharp spells and is taken out of the attack after making the breakthrough then showing signs of tiring. Ryana MacDonald-Gay comes into the attack in her place but gives Healy too much width as the Australia skipper swings outside her off-stump but is a touch fortunate as the thick edge flies over point.
43rd over: Australia 114-2 (Sutherland 47, Healy 9) Healy is looking comfortable off her back foot, first pulling over midwicket for three runs then adding a couple more with a similar shot that sails a bit squarer.
42nd over: Australia 108-2 (Sutherland 46, Healy 4) Bell is forced to change her line now bowling to a pair of right-handers but continues to threaten outside off-stump. Sutherland flicks off her pads for a single off the first ball, then Healy finishes the over with an uppish straight drive that falls short of Lauren Filer at mid-off.
41st over: Australia 106-2 (Sutherland 45, Healy 3) Ecclestone continues after the drinks break with a new batter at the crease. But Healy looks at ease as she drives off the back foot for a single, while Sutherland dispatches another shorter ball to the leg side as Filer collects inside the boundary to save a run.
40th over: Australia 102-2 (Sutherland 42, Healy 2) Bell has been the pick of the England bowlers this morning as she had the left-handed Litchfield on the ropes from her opening over. Next in is Alyssa Healy as the Australia skipper is straight into the game with a pull for a single.
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WICKET! Litchfield c Jones b Bell 45 (Australia 99-2)
Lauren Bell finally gets her reward for a top-class spell to the Australian left-hander. Phoebe Litchfield drives at yet another delivery angled across her body as this one moves away late to take an outside edge through to the keeper. The opener had been hanging on in the one-on-one contest with Bell until trying her luck once too often.
39th over: Australia 98-1 (Litchfield 45, Sutherland 41) Litchfield is using her feet more now to Ecclestone whether stepping backwards or dancing down the track. But she is unable to find a gap until clipping off her pads for a single to midwicket.
38th over: Australia 96-1 (Litchfield 44, Sutherland 40) Bell and Litchfield renew their battle with the young opener starting to look more comfortable the third time around. Litchfield finishes the over by clubbing a wider delivery with a shot that deserved more than a single to cover.
37th over: Australia 95-1 (Litchfield 43, Sutherland 40) Ecclestone straightens up her line a touch to ensure the Australian pair have to play but is unable to find a way through. Sutherland sneaks a single after a thick edge that bounces through point, then Litchfield adds another when whipping away off her pads.
36th over: Australia 93-1 (Litchfield 42, Sutherland 39) Bell to Litchfield again as the England quick turns the pressure up on the Australian opener. Litchfield makes better decisions this time over when to play or leave deliveries angling across her but it’s another maiden.
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35th over: Australia 93-1 (Litchfield 42, Sutherland 39) The Australian duo are starting to look more comfortable against Ecclestone as the off-spinner sends down her seventh consecutive over of the day. Heather Knight might have to turn to other spin options soon, if only to give her main strike bowler a breather. Four runs from the over including a classy backfoot drive from Litchfield for a couple.
34th over: Australia 89-1 (Litchfield 39, Sutherland 38) A superb over from Bell to Litchfield as the England quick has the ball angling across the left-hander in a tempting channel just outside off-stump. Litchfield plays and misses at four of the six deliveries as an enthralling duel gets brewing. Maiden over.
33rd over: Australia 89-1 (Litchfield 39, Sutherland 38) Ecclestone continues with Litchfield more watchful until dancing down the pitch to create a half-volley for a single to long-on. Litchfield’s backfoot drive to end the over with another single adds a touch of class as the 21-year-old, dare I say it, moves closer to a first Test fifty.
32nd over: Australia 86-1 (Litchfield 37, Sutherland 37) Lauren Bell comes into the attack as England hope a bit more movement that Filer tends to offer might shift this Australia partnership. The pacer very nearly breaks through with her first ball as Litchfield plays and misses with a cover drive. A misfield at cover allows Litchfield to pick up a gift of two runs, then the opener finds a single through midwicket.
31st over: Australia 83-1 (Litchfield 34, Sutherland 37) SHOT! Litchfield steps back to pull Ecclestone away to the square leg boundary and pile more misery on the off-spinner. She responds immediately with a jaffa that beats the outside edge. Ecclestone has started about as well as Heather Knight would have hoped today but without quite getting her just reward.
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30th over: Australia 78-1 (Litchfield 29, Sutherland 37) Filer to Litchfield as the England quick continues to pitch up to the young opener without threatening. Litchfield picks up the first shorter ball of the over to comfortably pull for a single.
29th over: Australia 77-1 (Litchfield 28, Sutherland 37) Oh dear, another chance goes begging for England. This one was tougher as Sutherland is deceived by Ecclestone’s flight and drift to nick off. Amy Jones has no idea as the ball crashes into the tips of her gloves and falls to the floor. That’s three opportunities for England wasted already on day two and Sutherland rubs salt into the wound with a monstrous SIX over long-off.
28th over: Australia 71-1 (Litchfield 28, Sutherland 31) After two catches are grassed the runs start to flow as Litchfield and Sutherland turn over the strike with easy singles. The opener makes the most of a looser delivery from Filer as she clips off her hip for four to bring up the 50-run partnership.
27th over: Australia 63-1 (Litchfield 22, Sutherland 29) DROPPED! It was a relatively straightforward chance for Danni Wyatt-Hodge as Sutherland reaches away from her body and drives hard through covers. Wyatt-Hodge dives hard and low to her right and gets two hands the ball but is unable to hold on. That really should have been gobbled up by one of England’s better fielders but now she is left counting the number of runs that Sutherland makes with her second life.
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26th over: Australia 62-1 (Litchfield 21, Sutherland 29) Filer doubles down on her plan to bowl short to Sutherland and begins with a bouncer that sails over the all-rounder’s head. Sutherland waits until the final delivery of the over to get on the back foot and drive through covers for a couple.
Cricket Australia have ominously confirmed that Ellyse Perry is available to bat in this innings “if required”, though there is no further suggestion whether she might come in sooner rather than later… or at all.
25th over: Australia 60-1 (Litchfield 21, Sutherland 27) A life for Litchfield as the young opener steps down the pitch and targets the long-on boundary but gets under the stroke. Sophia Dunkley scampers backwards with the sun staring straight at her and with her back turned throws an arm in the air searching for a miracle. The ball drops safely inside the rope as the Australian pair only manage a single.
24th over: Australia 57-1 (Litchfield 20, Sutherland 25) Lauren Filer takes the ball in hand as England go for a spin-pace combination early on day two. The England quick starts with a pair of short balls before Sutherland clips a single off her pads. Filer is much fuller to Litchfield with two slips in place.
23rd over: Australia 56-1 (Litchfield 20, Sutherland 24) Ecclestone starts with a slip and a short leg in catching positions as England look to grab a much-needed early wicket. The off-spinner tries to tempt Litchfield but the Australia opener is content leaving the ball or defending when required to play. Maiden over to start day two at the MCG.
England will turn to spin to start day two of the Women’s Ashes Test with Sophie Ecclestone marking out her run up and Phoebe Litchfield taking strike.
Australia have no doubt benefited from their enviable depth across a series that will have as many as 10 match days squeezed into little more than two weeks, as they have brushed aside England to now be within sight of the first Women’s Ashes clean sweep since the multi-format series was introduced.
Geoff Lemon suggests Australia’s dominance allowed them the luxury of playing funny buggers at the selection table, while also looking at the other important women’s cricket match that took part in Melbourne yesterday.
Right now Australia could pick eight players and three lucky-dip winners from the crowd and still come out on top.
Now for the weather. After sunny but relatively cool conditions yesterday there is a touch of cloud around ahead of the start of day two in Melbourne. England have stacked their attack with pacers, which could work in their favour even with a ball that is already 22 overs old.
🌤️Mild, dry and partly cloudy in the south.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Victoria (@BOM_Vic) January 30, 2025
☀️Warm, dry and sunny in the north.
🌡️Temperatures close to average.
Areas of smoke over western districts.
🌬️Moderate south to southeasterly winds.
Heat returns to much of the state from Saturday. pic.twitter.com/FDEzL6nF0N
An Ashes campaign that began with high hopes for a close contest especially after the tied series 18 months ago has drifted towards a focus on whether a dominant Australia side can complete a clean sweep over their rivals England. Even with renewed incentive to avoid such a humiliation, England were unable to get a foothold in the Test on day one as Maia Bouchier was dismissed in the opening over and Australia had too much firepower in their attack.
Raf Nicholson was at the MCG as England failed to live up to the occasion of the first Women’s Test at the venue in 76 years, while Alana King turned back the clock even further with yet another masterful display of leg-spin.
As Alana King spun her web around England – taking four for 45 as the visitors fell to 170 all out in 71.4 overs – the spirit of another leg-spinner echoed around the ground. No, not Shane Warne but Peggy Antonio, the Melburnian factory-worker who took six for 49 the first time a women’s Test was played at this ground, in January 1935.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of day two of the Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG. Australia will resume on 56 for 1 after dismissing England for 170 in front of more than 11,000 fans yesterday, with Phoebe Litchfield (20) and Annabel Sutherland (24) back at the crease in about 45 minutes.
The hosts are in a commanding position after Kim Garth and Darcie Brown set the tone with the new ball, then leg-spinner Alana King ripped through the England middle-order to continue her superb series. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the only batter to go on with a start as she passed fifty for the seventh time in Tests but lacked enough partners to build a decent first-innings total for the tourists. King showed that there is enough life in the pitch to whet the appetite of the likes of Sophie Ecclestone, though Australia have selected an especially deep batting line-up stacked with supposed all-rounders.
Australia will be sweating on the fitness of Ellyse Perry who injured a hip while fielding yesterday. The all-rounder was bumped down the order, with Sutherland stepping in at No 3 after Georgia Voll’s dismissal in her debut Test, but it remains to be seen whether Perry will be able to return to play at all.
First ball will be at 2.30pm local time / AEDT or 3.30am GMT. In the meantime, let us know your predictions or just expectations for the day ahead – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
