Ashes: Australia look to take momentum from Test draw into deciding ODIs

An unforgettable Test draw has set the scene for an epic conclusion to the Ashes with three games to come.

Australian captain Meg Lanning and her team just missed victory in an epic Test match. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

World Cup-winning Australian bowler Megan Schutt will be injected back into the line-up for the closing three one-day internationals against England that will decide the Ashes after both teams finished the epic drawn Test minus any real momentum.

Australian captain Meg Lanning said she was “frazzled” after the unbelievable final day in which a massive 457 runs were scored and 14 wickets fell as the match was decided on the final ball.

England batter Nat Sciver said she was “more sad than happy” and Australian coach Matthew Mode said his side would need to reset ahead of the opening ODI on Thursday in Canberra again.

Australia needs just a single victory to retain the Ashes, but the final three games also loom as crucial preparation for the World Cup that begins in March.

“I think momentum is a bit overrated. I think England will take plenty out of that as well,” he said.

“Both teams will go away not sure what to make of it. We’ve got a couple of days to chill out, debrief, get our heads around the ODIs which are critical for not only this series but also the 50-over World Cup (in March).”

Mott said the closing stages of a thrilling draw at Manuka Oval was as tense as the Australian women’s dressing room had been for some time.

After an incredibly chaotic conclusion to the #Ashes Test, you can't blame Meg Lanning for being a bit frazzled! @CommBank | #Ashespic.twitter.com/346780yfFy

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 30, 2022

England’s aggressive batting, nearly chasing down a larger total in the Test match than they ever have against Australia in an ODI, was an indicator that Australia won’t have things their own way in the 50-over matches.

An aggressive declaration by Lanning tempted England to go after the 257 to win from 48 overs late on day four, and the tourists were 3/218 in the 41st over before the loss of six wickets inside the next six overs stopped their push for a famous Test win, finishing 9/245.

“We were well and truly on the back foot,” Mott said. “There were definitely some nervous moments. Whenever you make a declaration like that there’s a lot of calculations that go into it.

“We thought we’d got it right and it was proved that we got pretty close. At one stage there I thought it was England’s to win. I thought we fought back pretty well and nearly stole one.”

The Australian team surrounds the bat as England’s Kate Cross blocks out the final ball. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The draw keeps Australia two points clear in the multi-format series, with the first of three one-day internationals starting on Thursday at Manuka Oval, followed by two at Melbourne‘s Junction Oval.

Lanning conceded the amazing conclusion had drained her.

“My mind is a bit frazzled to be honest. There was a lot going on there,” she said.

“We weren‘t sure it was enough time to bowl them out but felt it gave us an opportunity. England batted really well, it was still a pretty good wicket, and they put us under pressure, then it was nice to flip it around a bit at the back-end. It was a pretty amazing game in the end.”

Megan Schutt will return for the ODIs. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

With the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand front of mind, Schutt missed the Test match, taking a cautious approach to her conditioning, but Mott insists she will be back for the pivotal ODIs in the next week.

“She’d kill me if she didn’t come back in for these three ODIs,” he joked.

“She’s been fantastic around this decision (to miss the Test). We communicated pretty early that it wasn’t going to be in her best interests.

“I think the medical team have worked on that really well. She’ll definitely come back in for the first couple of ODIs and hopefully all three leading into that World Cup really well.”

Originally published as Ashes: Australia look to take momentum from Test draw into deciding ODIs