Where this year’s women’s Ashes will be won and lost
Australia face England in an Ashes series that will act as a proxy for deciding the best multi-format women’s team on the planet. MEL JONES identifies where the series will be won and lost.
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It’s more than the Ashes on the line this July, it’s the chance for Australia or England to lay claim to being the best all around team in world cricket.
England are the current 50-over World Champions having handled the pressure and expectations of a home World Cup in 2017 when they lifted the trophy in front of a sold out Lord’s, defeating India in a nail biting finale.
Australia lost the semi of that World Cup to India and it hurt in so many ways.
It was the first time since 2009 the Aussies didn’t have the 50 over World Trophy in their cabinet and it didn’t sit well.
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With a dominant display in their 2018 World T20 campaign, coming up against England in the final in Antigua they comfortably won their fourth T20 title and some normality was returned.
DOUBLE OR NOTHING
The stand-alone Test in Taunton, worth double points, could well be the deciding factor between these two evenly matched sides in the multi-formatted series which also includes three one day Internationals and three T20 Internationals.
England will want to get early wins on the board in their favoured format and recent whitewashes over Sri Lanka away, and the West Indies at home, have unearthed new talent to help them achieve this.
ENGLAND’S STRENGTHS
Amy Jones has stepped out of the shadows as Sarah Taylor’s understudy to be one of England’s in-form players.
Having missed selection for the 2017 World Cup, Jones has been a regular in the side since then and is averaging 46 in ODI and 28 in T20I.
Another resurgent player for England is Kate Cross who had almost given up on another national call up. In the eleven internationals she has played this year she has gone wicketless only once, adding more fire power to the potent opening partnership of Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole.
ENGLAND’S WEAKNESS
England’s major concern is keeping their squad fit and healthy over a month of intense cricket. Captain Heather Knight is struggling with a hamstring injury and senior players in Brunt, Shrubsole and Taylor have all missed series or games due to recurring issues.
AUSTRALIA’S STRENGTHS
For Australia, retaining the Ashes through a draw will not be good enough. A series win will mean there is no doubt over their world number one ranking in both formats and leave no questions about their number one tag.
The touring party is one of the most talented, balanced and flexible squads to compete for an Ashes in this multi format. The healthy competition for spots and roles in the team has created an inner drive that is bringing the best out of players like Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen and Beth Mooney.
AUSTRALIA’S WEAKNESSES
England has a versatile batting unit, they use behind the wicket more than any other team in world cricket and they really work the ball around. The pressure will be on Australian bowling units to force England to hit into the areas Australia wants — and the Aussie bowlers will need to have, and be able to execute, a Plan B.
KEY MATCH UPS
1: A collective squad performance will ultimately drive who wins this series but there are three match ups that I think will both entertain and play a major role in who lifts the Ashes.
Meg Lanning and Heather Knight will go head to head both with the bat and game tactics and there is no doubt that the two World Cup winning captains will face multiple Ashes winning moments and who responds best under pressure will go a long way to deciding the series.
2. Left arm orthodox spin has never had the glitz and glamour tag attached to it but the head-to-head of Jess Jonanssen and Sophie Eccelstone just might bring the art into vogue.
With no left-handers in England’s top order, Jonassen will have the advantage of constantly turning the ball away. However, Eccelstone — in the short time she has been in England colours — has constantly improved and her height and bounce will cause issues in all formats.
3. I’ve saved the most tantalising match up till last. The game-changing, heart on sleeve, talented speedster in Katherine Brunt versus the match-winning, career-best form of Australia’s chirpy fielding backbone Alyssa Healy.
This match up could well kick start the Ashes with a bang, ball one on July 2nd and from then on each and every delivery will be one to saver. England have won 14 games on the trot, Healy has cheekily said the Aussies won’t lose a game, something has to give.
VERDICT
Australia to win the Test and win, not retain, the Ashes.