That Test had absolutely everything. I think I changed my mind about who was going to win approximately once every 10 minutes for all five days of the match. But most importantly the possibility of a result always stayed in play. There was no need for sporting declarations to keep the match alive – both teams could play their innings out to their natural conclusion.
There were outstanding individual performances galore. Many people have made the points about Beaumont’s 208, Sutherland’s 137 and Ecclestone’s 10-wicket haul not even managing to crack player of the match honours. Gardner certainly deserved the nod, but in any other match, any of those performances would have got them over the line.
I’ve said it so many times over the past five days – Gardner, Knight and Healy all said it too – but we need more five-day women’s Tests. There is no better advertisement for what five days can offer women’s Test cricket than this match. The second part of the request is that we need more women’s Tests in general. I can’t wait for the day when the women’s Ashes is a Test series and we can see the true ebbs and flows of Test cricket, the selection tactics, the way the captains approach different pitches and more.
I’ve had a wonderful time with you all during this Test, thank you for spending the time with me as we marvelled at the incredible feats of the players from both teams. Australia were sensational, but England really took it to them and made them work very hard for that win. Raf Nicholson’s match report will be up soon – you won’t want to miss that one – so keep an eye out for it and re-live all the drama and excitement from the final day.
Until next time, good night to all my Australian compatriots – enjoy an early night for a nice change - and good afternoon to the readers in England.
An excellent point from Brittany Carter – I know I’m going to be relieved to get to bed at a reasonable hour tonight! It’s been a tough slog for Australian fans with two Ashes series going on.
A big THANK YOU to the @AusWomenCricket for wrapping up this Test match on the final day by 9:30pm AEST for us Australian fans!
— Brittany Carter (@_BrittanyCarter) June 26, 2023
Sleep is hard to come by right now with both Ashes series in action. Is there anything they can’t do? 😍 #WAshes
We now hear from Alyssa Healy.
“Very happy – first and foremost, how good is it to have a result? she says. “And happy to be on the right end of it. We’ve got a four day Test match at the WACA in February – that might only need four days, it’s going to be very hot! But even having a reserve day sometimes would be useful.”
Everything went at a blistering pace today, so if you want to go back over how it all happened, there’s a match report up now.
Heather Knight is speaking now, she also praises the five-day format of the Test.
“Credit to Australia, they were outstanding, but I think our girls went toe-to-toe with them all match,” she adds. “There were a couple of sessions where we didn’t do as well as we should have, but what a match!”
Player of the Match: Ash Gardner
No surprises here, what a match from the Muruwari woman.
“I wouldn’t have dreamt of it to be honest,” she says. “But I guess it just shows that having five days in a Test match to get a result is super important. There was a bit of luck involved – some kept low, some turned, but it was awesome to be able to put a performance on for the team.”
She also explains the natural pace that she has in her repertoire.
“I used to be a pace bowler, so I guess I naturally bowl faster than other spin bowlers.”
Great perspective from Georgie Heath here on just how much went down in this Test match.
England had a batter score a double hundred, a bowler take TWO five-wicket hauls and were still on the losing side.
— Georgie Heath 🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27) June 26, 2023
THAT'S how good this Aussie team are 😳 #ENGvsAUS #cricket #Ashes23
Not to be outdone, another stats whiz – Hypocaust – has this interesting one for us on the run rate of this Test.
Highest match run-rate for a women's Test:
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 26, 2023
rpo
3.67 ENG v AUS, Trent Bridge 2023 (WTEST #145)
3.40 AUS v ENG, Canberra 2022 (WTEST #143)
3.15 ENG v SA, Taunton 2022 (WTEST #144)
3.09 ENG v WI, Trent Bridge 1979 #Ashes #WomensAshes
Some cool stats from the always cool stats guy Andy Zaltzman
Before Ecclestone and Gardner in this Test, there had only been ten 10-wicket match hauls in 144 women's Tests. Ecclestone is the first woman to take 10 in a Test and end on the losing side. https://t.co/lIX7yOgtrh
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) June 26, 2023
This was a mind-bogglingly good performance by Ash Gardner.
Outstanding! The best figures by an Australian woman in an innings and in a Test match!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 26, 2023
Ashleigh Gardner finishes with 12-165 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/xJOGpTeekf
I promised to get back to Dave’s point about Sophie Ecclestone and the possibility of her playing in the men’s team. I’ve heard this point made a few times, but I would question if she wants to do it? I’m loath to consider men’s cricket as the pinnacle that everyone aspires to, with women’s cricket as the perpetual runner up. Maybe Ecclestone could make her mark playing men’s cricket, but she still has plenty to achieve in women’s cricket and it’s not any less special.
Let’s jump into a couple more emails while we wait for post-match interviews. Maurice (great name you’ve got there) thinks the exclusion of Alice Capsey played a role in this loss for England.
Why was Capsey not picked for this test?
We needed to attack the attack!
Moz W
It’s such a shame there’s only one Test, it would have been fascinating to see what selections would change in a whole Test series.
Australia win!
The first result in a women’s Ashes Test since 2015 and it’s the same result it was in that match eight years ago – a win for Australia. They start their Ashes campaign extremely well, with four points to their name. Ash Gardner was sensational – what a bowling performance!
WICKET! Wyatt lbw Gardner 54 (England 178)
Wyatt had to give something a shot, so gets down to try to play a sweep shot, but the ball slams into her pads. She reviews, but again it’s four red lights and Gardner gets her eighth wicket.
Updated
WICKET! Filer b Gardner 0 (England 177-9)
Gardner keeps on persisting and Filer can’t get her defence set in time and the ball goes straight through her.
Updated
48th over: England 176-8 (Wyatt 53, Filer 0) No additional spin as yet, Healy is sticking with McGrath from this end. Excellent fielding from Jonassen at extra cover saves a ball that looks like it’s destined for the boundary – the Australians are looking determined to put this match out of England’s reach. McGrath is sending down consistently great deliveries and Filer is having to work hard to keep them away from her stumps.
47th over: England 175-8 (Wyatt 52, Filer 0) Gardner has been bowling very well, so it’s certainly understandable that she’s still going – especially after that Ecclestone wicket - but it will be interesting to see when King is used. There were some concerns about injury, but she’s looking good in the field. Could we see spin from both ends at some point soon? Filer is out there now to try to ride this home with Wyatt.
WICKET! Ecclestone lbw Gardner 10 (England 175-8)
Gardner gets Ecclestone cramped up in her crease and the ball hits her on the leg – she reviews, but it’s more in hope and desperation than anything. Four red lights and she’s on her way back to the pavilion.
Updated
46th over: England 174-7 (Wyatt 51, Ecclestone 10) Wyatt holds her team’s chances in her hands now and she keeps looking for her opportunities without overplaying her hand. McGrath is bowling very well, but can’t manage the breakthrough.
45th over: England 173-7 (Wyatt 50, Ecclestone 10) Wyatt brings up her half century on the first ball of the over and gives Gardner a shot at Ecclestone. Ecclestone gets down and sweeps one around the corner past fine leg for four. The total for England has come down into double figures now.
FIFTY! Danni Wyatt
She’s worked hard out there to keep her team in it and it’s a well-deserved fifty on debut for Wyatt.
Updated
44th over: England 168-7 (Wyatt 49, Ecclestone 6) McGrath takes another over and Wyatt starts with a single to deep point. McGrath misfields one off her own bowling next ball, but it doesn’t cost her a run, as it just trickles past her and is collected by King. The next ball is an excellent length – she’ll pick up a wicket before too long if she keeps bowling like this. The last ball of the over looks like it might just be that wicket, but it just misses everything.
Drinks are on the field, so it’s time for an email! First we have one from Dave.
Hi from a cool and cloudy Spain, Megan
If England lose this test, how big is the club Tammy will join as a double centurion who ended up on the losing side in a test? Collingwood springs to mind
And secondly, couldn’t Sophie play for the men’s team next test?
Cheers
Dave Langlois
My parents are in Spain at the moment Dave, so say hi if you spot them! Very interesting point about Beaumont! The Ecclestone point I’ll talk about later when I get a bit more time.
43rd over: England 167-7 (Wyatt 48, Ecclestone 6) Gardner gets one to keep extremely low and it looks like it might cause some problems for Wyatt, but she handles it very well. Ecclestone releases some pressure with a boundary from the last ball of the over.
42nd over: England 162-7 (Wyatt 47, Ecclestone 2) McGrath replaces Garth at the other end – Healy is keen to make something happen and Garth wasn’t quite dangerous enough so far this morning. McGrath bowls a very full ball that looks like it might trouble Ecclestone, but she deals with it easily enough. McGrath is getting a little bit of shape, which she will try to keep working with. She brings one back in to the pads of Ecclestone and there’s a half shout, but not a very convincing one.
41st over: England 161-7 (Wyatt 46, Ecclestone 2) Gardner continues her spell and there’s an appeal for lbw, but the Australians decide against reviewing it. Wyatt plays a nice single to long off for the only run from the over.
Updated
40th over: England 160-7 (Wyatt 45, Ecclestone 2) Garth takes another over and she’s getting her line pretty well right at the moment. She’s looking to create opportunities, but Wyatt and Ecclestone aren’t falling into any traps just yet.
39th over: England 157-7 (Wyatt 43, Ecclestone 1) There’s no doubt about it – Gardner is making things happen. She nearly has Wyatt lbw on the first ball of the over, then she gets Ecclestone edging, but the ball falls safely.
38th over: England 154-7 (Wyatt 41, Ecclestone 0) Wyatt is back on strike to Garth and the pressure on her is building. She’s coping with it pretty well for now, she pulls one to deep mid wicket for two to keep the scoreboard ticking over, then follows it up with a single and puts Ecclestone on strike, but she can’t get off the mark just yet.
37th over: England 151-7 (Wyatt 38, Ecclestone 0) Gardner looks dangerous again, cramping Jones up and pushing her back with her first ball of the over. But next ball, Jones strikes, using her footwork to drive the ball up and over deep extra cover for four. Next ball we get that stumping and it brings Ecclestone to the crease. She sees out the over cautiously.
WICKET! Jones st Healy b Gardner 4 (England 151-7)
Well no one thought that was out, but Healy manages to whip the bails off just before Jones gets her bat back in her crease. I can imagine there’s nothing a keeper hates more than being out stumped! Jones will be kicking herself for that one. Gardner has a 5fa now.
Updated
36th over: England 147-6 (Wyatt 38, Jones 0) Another over for Garth and she offers up too much width first ball – Wyatt pounces on it with a late cut, guiding it past third for four. Garth tightens up her line and Wyatt is patient, biding her time before her next opportunity. Frankie on Twitter brings news from Trent Bridge.
It’s sooooo tense here, every run brings most of the crowd a bit of relief but the pockets of Aussie’s get a bit more strained.
— Frankie (@cricket_frankie) June 26, 2023
35th over: England 143-6 (Wyatt 34, Jones 0) Another over from Gardner. Wyatt is doing a good job of rotating the strike and keeping the runs ticking over – she knows the importance of not leaving it too late to make a dent in this total they’re chasing. Jones is showing intent, but taking some time to find a gap in the field. She doesn’t find it this over and she’s yet to get off the mark.
34th over: England 142-6 (Wyatt 33, Jones 0) Garth comes in to the attack now, she gets good line and length first ball, but Wyatt digs it out and slashes it across to the leg side. Healy is very enthusiastically keeping Garth up and about, there’s a lot of “Yes Kim, good length Kim!” going on out there. Just the one run from that over.
33rd over: England 141-6 (Wyatt 32, Jones 0) Cross is taken a little by surprise when Wyatt takes a single on the first ball – she looked like she was expecting her to hold on to the strike a bit more. Gardner creates a chance on the second ball of the over, but the ball sails just wide of Litchfield at second slip. The next ball brings the wicket, but it also brings Jones to the crease. Gardner nearly gets Jones first ball – it beats the bat, but misses the stumps.
WICKET! Cross c Healy b Gardner 11 (England 141-6)
Cross gives away a little knick and Healy picks it up cleanly. A good start for the Australians!
Updated
32nd over: England 138-5 (Wyatt 31, Cross 11) McGrath continues and Cross immediately gets off strike with a leg bye, before Wyatt plays a lovely little shot off her pads for two and then the batters trade singles for a little while – they’re not letting any scoring opportunities go to waste. There’s a shout on the last ball of the over, but the Australians decide not to review – I note the DRS timer has returned!
31st over: England 132-5 (Wyatt 27, Cross 10) Gardner resumes and she starts with a very good length ball to Cross. She misses her line a little on the next ball and it’s well played by Cross to third for two runs. A few more runs from this over and they’re scoring fairly freely off Gardner at the moment.
30th over: England 127-5 (Wyatt 25, Cross 7) McGrath takes the ball from the other end and starts with a couple of very good length balls – she’s getting it swinging away and it doesn’t look completely comfortable for Wyatt. Wyatt shows her intention with some big swings at the ball, but she can’t quite get her timing right for the first couple of goes at it. On her third attempt, she hits it beautifully past deep cover to the boundary.
29th over: England 123-5 (Wyatt 21, Cross 7) Here we go, the first over of this very important day! Unsurprisingly it’s Gardner to bowl the first over after her stunning performance yesterday. Wyatt defends the first two balls back to Gardner, but the third beats the bat. Unfortunately for Gardner, it trickles away to the boundary for four byes, but it’s good signs for the spinner early. Wyatt and Cross pick up a single each – they’re well aware of the need to keep the score ticking over to give England a shot at the win.
So close now!!
Day five @TrentBridge
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) June 26, 2023
Aussies need five wickets, England need 152 runs. Let’s go! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/jsmdL32s6p
There were some concerns about Alana King after she spent some time off the field yesterday afternoon, but the leggie looks like she’s raring to go today!
Great signs! Alana King is back on the field and getting ready to go for day five! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/9qm9gLRK7o
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 26, 2023
A question from reader Yosef Coleman via email:
Does this match going to 5 days show the importance of women’s tests being 5 days and therefore the ECB and CA etc should announce that women’s test matches will have 5 days of scheduled play instead of 4 days of scheduled play? It is just so much better when a match has 5 days scheduled and things are a lot less rushed
Yosef M. Coleman
I think you all know that my answer is resoundingly yes!
Not long to go until play begins now, but while you wait, perhaps muse on this. England A and Australia A played the third of three T20s yesterday and England A took a narrow win in the final match to win the T20 series 3-0. Surprising? I would say so!
🔵 ENGLAND A v AUSTRALIA T20s🔵
— Women’s CricZone (@WomensCricZone) June 25, 2023
England A 156/9 (20)
Danielle Gibson 44 (35)
Bess Heath 29 (19)
Grace Harris 3/19
Australia A 152/6 (20)
Tahlia Wilson 56* (37)
Sarah Glenn 2/24
Freya Davies 2/37
England A won by 4 runs and clinched the series 3⃣ -0⃣#Ashes | #ENGAvAUSA pic.twitter.com/flvGcewJuA
If you’re keen to read about the four days so far in the form of a (very funny) screenplay, I highly recommend Dan Liebke’s exceptionally great Twitter account. He never fails to make me laugh.
#AshesScreenplay Women's Test, Day One pic.twitter.com/eOryZEj09x
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) June 22, 2023
Hear from Beth Mooney on the key role that Ash Gardner has to play to secure this win for Australia.
The Aussies are hunting a WIN on day five and Beth Mooney reckons Ash Gardner has a huge role to play! #Ashes | @AusWomenCricket pic.twitter.com/P7PNeJPIFG
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 26, 2023
Sophie Ecclestone took an incredible 10 wickets in this match and you can re-live all of them!
All 🔟 @SophEcc19 wickets! 😍#EnglandCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bDTaEcVD6r
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 26, 2023
And if you want to keep the scorecard bookmarked, you can find it on this page – I wish it didn’t say ‘batsman’ too, but the wonderful Tanya Aldred has looked into this and it is apparently something beyond our control.
Next up we have Raf Nicholson on England’s collapse and the damage that Ash Gardner inflicted.
Time to catch up on the required reading before play begins. First up, here’s Geoff Lemon on Alyssa Healy and that important captain’s knock.
Preamble
Probably my favourite thing about Test cricket is that a match can truly be poised like no other sport. We’ve been begging for five day Tests for women for what feels like forever and finally our wish has been granted and hasn’t it delivered? There could be no better advertisement for the game than what we have just witnessed over the last four days. I’m having a looking at today’s weather forecast at Trent Bridge and it looks pretty good – a small chance of rain, but it doesn’t seem like anything that will stop us from getting a result – if the Met Office is to be believed.
Yesterday’s play had more twists and turns than an episode of Black Mirror – can today deliver more of the same? I can’t wait to find out! Alyssa Healy had looked below her best – her duck in the first innings and some captaincy decisions that let her inexperience at this level show marred her performance, but she really stood up when she came out to bat yesterday. Her 50 was much needed and although she’ll be disappointed it wasn’t more, she gave her team hope and a platform to build from to fight their way back into the match.
Although Australia appear to be in a stronger position, England are not out of this either. There is time enough for them to score these remaining runs and pull off an extraordinary win. As I said, there’s nothing like a perfectly poised match. Let’s get into it!
