Australia v England women’s Ashes Test: Alana King’s day one brilliance puts Aussies on cusp of historic whitewash

Alana King owned the opening day of the historic women’s Test at the MCG, taking four wickets to have Australia dreaming of a historic Ashes whitewash. RECAP THE KEY MOMENTS

An injury to superstar Ellyse Perry overshadowed another comprehensive day by Australia in the marquee day-night Test match at the MCG.

Perry hurt her hip after landing awkwardly during Australia’s fielding innings and left the ground in pain.

Perry did not return and Cricket Australia said she would undergo further assessment before day two of the Test.

The injury was untimely for the Aussies, who had surged into a strong position through spinners Alana King and Ash Gardner.

RECAP ALL THE KEY MOMENTS IN OUR BLOG BELOW

King took 4-45 while Gardner claimed 1-30 as Australia reduced England from 4-127 to 10-170.

The strong hour either side of the dinner break came after a mini fightback from England, which was yet again on the back foot due to early wickets.

Nat Sciver-Brunt scored a gritty half-century but was a lone hand in much-needed English resistance.

King found the edge of Sciver-Brunt early in the middle session but the third umpire deemed the ball to have touched the ground on its way to captain Alyssa Healy at first slip.

Perry, who has two centuries and averages 62 in Test cricket, was listed to bat at No. 3 but was replaced by Annabel Sutherland after the loss of debutant Georgia Voll (12).

Sutherland (24no) and Phoebe Litchfield (20no) steered the Aussies to 1-56 at stumps.

Not a good news for Ellyse Perry fans. 🙁#CricketTwitter#Ashespic.twitter.com/iuwtihqsCV

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 30, 2025

A SYMBOLIC RUN

England’s final wicket on day one summarised the tourists’ horror series down under.

After batting for eight overs and adding 13 runs, Ryana MacDonald-Gay struck the ball directly to Darcie Brown point and called Lauren Bell through for a run.

Brown collected the ball cleanly, threw it to Beth Mooney who then took the bails off to comfortably run Bell out.

Alana King celebrates one of her four day one wickets. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

‘HOPEFULLY IT DOES A BIT MORE’: GARTH

Despite England’s middle-session collapse, Australia seamer Kim Garth said the MCG wicket was “a little bit dead” at one end.

Garth struck with the first wicket of the Test, dismissing out of form opener Maia Bouchier, after Australia won the toss and sent England in.

Several English edges fell short of the slips cordon during the first session in a sign of the slow nature of the wicket.

Garth told Channel 7 prior to England’s collapse that the wicket had little life at one end and that she hoped to see more deviation when the lights came on.

“It’s probably a tale of two ends. Coming from the far end into the wind it’s a little bit dead, potentially a little bit two-paced,” she said.

“There’s probably a bit more in it for the quicks coming from this end. We’ll have to see how it behaves under lights. Hopefully it does a bit more for us.”

BOUCHIER’S NIGHTMARE RUN

Maia Bouchier’s forgettable Australian summer continued on Thursday, with the English opener again failing to survive the first over.

Bouchier (2 off 3 balls) has reached double figures just twice this Ashes series for a best of 17.

England’s openers have provided little rest for its middle order across the summer, averaging 10.57 before the fall of the first wicket.

Bouchier’s outside edge was caught safely by diving wicketkeeper Beth Mooney.

THE BOUNDARY SOCIAL

The shortened boundary at the city end of the MCG has allowed fans to experience day one action up close.

The sectioned off beer garden called ‘The Boundary Social’ was open to the public and was first-in-first-served for fans who wanted to sit closer than normal.

The innovation complimented the ‘Ashes After Dark’ concept which featured local artist G Flip performing live at the dinner break.

Originally published as Australia v England women’s Ashes Test: Alana King’s day one brilliance puts Aussies on cusp of historic whitewash