Dropped catches by England help Australia open Ashes with a win but that can’t be relied on again

An early series lead in the multi-format Ashes has put Australia a big step closer to retaining the trophy, but they know England won’t make the same mistakes in game 2.

The most recent Ashes served Australia a clear reminder that any early lead in the multi-format series can be “chased down pretty quickly”.

And having ridden a fair bit of good luck in the opening ODI win on Sunday, star all-rounder Ash Gardner knows the gap between Australia and England is so narrow that the improvement in both outfits could decide Tuesday’s second clash in Melbourne.

Victory at the Junction Oval would put the Australians within two more wins from the following four white-ball games of retaining the trophy.

But having lost both the ODI and T20 series 2-1 when the team’s last met in 2023 after winning the Test first-up, which was enough to retain the Ashes, there are only eyes on what’s next and not the prize.

“We realised that pretty quickly in England last time when we were 6-0 up and then that got chased down pretty quickly,” Gardner said after her player of the match performance in Sydney.

“We could be playing amazing cricket, but England are such an amazing team and they always find a way.

“They certainly fought really hard in that series and we know that they’re going to look at this game and look at the things they didn’t do well and the things they did do well and try to implement them for longer periods.”

AUS 4/95! 🔥🏏

📺 WATCH #AUSvENG on Ch. 501 or stream via Kayo https://t.co/atfZLZZCEY j
✍️ LIVE BLOG https://t.co/qllhYks149
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/IrBNUMrVg2pic.twitter.com/waDA47VgTq

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 12, 2025

Gardner said her batting had been “luckless” for the past few months, but that could be turning after Sixers teammate Sophie Ecclestone put down a simple chance at mid-off that could have helped England win the opening ODI of the Ashes series.

Australia needed 22 runs with four wickets in hand when Gardner hit a Lauren Bell delivery straight to the spinner who appeared to have the catch under control, only for the ball to spill out when she landed on the ground.

It was a crucial moment, as the hosts ended up chasing down the target of 205 with Gardner finishing unbeaten on 42 in a player-of-the-match performance.

“I definitely thought I was out,” she said after the game.

“To get that ball and hit the shot I did was pretty disappointing. I shouldn’t have tried to be too technically correct and tried to put it in the stands.

“They’re some of those moments when you need a bit of luck on your side. I feel like with my batting that I’ve been pretty luckless recently, so they’re the ones that get taken or someone takes a screamer off what you think is a good shot.”

Fielding was one of the major differences at a sold-out North Sydney Oval, with Alice Capsey also putting down a sitter when Ellyse Perry was on seven, while the Aussies held onto most of their chances to bowl England out cheaply.

Capsey drops! 😮

📺 WATCH #AUSvENG on Ch. 501 or stream via Kayo https://t.co/atfZLZZCEY j
✍️ LIVE BLOG https://t.co/qllhYks149
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/IrBNUMrVg2pic.twitter.com/wgkCVV7f0l

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) January 12, 2025

Bell didn’t want to speculate on what could have happened if they held their chances, with the quick confident they can learn plenty from the first-up loss.

There were plenty of positives for Australia, with skipper Alyssa Healy scoring 70 and keeping well after overcoming a knee issue, while Gardner also picked up three wickets to go with her crucial knock in the chase.

It’s been an up and down few months for the all-rounder, who posted half-centuries in recent white-ball series against India and New Zealand after a disappointing WBBL campaign where she posted a career-low average and strike rate.

“Coming off the back of the Big Bash, T20 cricket is such a funny one because it’s so fickle,” she said, proud of her ability to be so proactive on a tricky pitch.

“I find batting in the middle order in this team in ODI cricket that I’ve got more time, and I think that’s something I try to remember when I’m out in the middle.

“For me, it’s always knowing that I can catch up if needed.”

Originally published as Dropped catches by England help Australia open Ashes with a win but that can’t be relied on again