Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy explain Aussie blueprint for a women’s Ashes like never before

The addition of a fifth day and a Dukes ball will change how Alyssa Healy’s side approach a one-off Test against England. LACHLAN McKIRDY goes inside Australia’s camp to find out their plans.

Alyssa Healy’s first Test as captain will also be her first five-day match. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Ellyse Perry has hailed the addition of a fifth day of Test cricket as a game changer, with the move set to return the format to the standing it deserves in the women’s Ashes.

Perry’s world-beating side also can’t hide their excitement about using a Dukes ball, another huge change for the series-opening Test at Trent Bridge that begins on June 22.

The six previous women’s Tests, played since 2017, were draws completed over four days.

The addition of approximately 50 more overs across the match – with 90 overs to be completed each day instead of 100 – should give Australia a golden chance to snap that trend.

Australia’s most experienced players know it will be like nothing they’ve ever faced before.

“[It] is certainly a different challenge for both teams,” Ellyse Perry told CODE Sports. “It’s nice to see the Test evolve into a fixture that is really promoting aggressive cricket.

“It means you can’t just hang on for four days anymore. The team that wins that Test is going to have to play really good cricket, and they’re going to have to take risks at the right time.”

Ellyse Perry has dominated Test cricket with bat and ball. Picture: Harry Trump/Getty Images

The only other women’s five-day Test came in 1992 between Australia and England at North Sydney Oval.

Perry, who is set to play in her 11th Test match, has a stellar record in the format. The all-rounder has scored 752 runs at an average of 75.20, while also taking 37 wickets at an average of 19.97.

With an array of incredible records to her name, Perry has undoubtedly produced some of her best highlights in the whites and is looking forward to the Test match getting the recognition it deserves in the series.

“I think it’s perhaps at times been a slight back seat to the limited-overs fixtures because you’re always guaranteed a result in them,” Perry said.

“This time around, it could provide a massive advantage for whatever team plays the best in that format.”

A lot of the focus for the Australians during their pre-departure camp in Brisbane was becoming accustomed to the Dukes ball.

While batters made note of the consistency of swing in the nets, they were also quick to point out that they were rewarded for good shot selection.

“It’s about watching that ball and knowing that it will swing, but being prepared to score off it still,” said Phoebe Litchfield. “Don’t become very defensive because it’s still a ball at the end of the day, you’ve got to watch it hard.”

Phoebe Litchfield is eyeing a Test debut. Picture: Albert Perez/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Kim Garth was regularly referred to as the most dangerous bowler with a Dukes. The former Irish international has used it occasionally in the past, and that capacity to manoeuvre the ball could help her force her way into Australia’s XI.

“She’ll be suited to English conditions really well,” said Litchfield. “Similar to [Michael] Neser, wanders in and hits a length.”

“She seemed to know what she was doing with the ball,” added captain Alyssa Healy.

“They’re working out little cheeky ways to be skilful with that ball.”

Australia has not taken all 20 wickets in a Test since 2015, the last time there was a result. Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes’ absence also leaves a void of two batters with Test averages of 40-plus.

For Healy, getting the balance right at the selection table is set to be key. With an extra day and a Dukes ball in play, she wants a team that allows her to be assertive from the start.

“No one in our group has played a five-day Test match, so there’s a lot of external people … that have played a lot of Shield and red-ball cricket that we can take advice from,” Healy said.

“At the end of the day, it’s gonna be all about feel, and you go with your gut a lot of times. Whether that be a declaration or we need to lift the run rate.

“And we’re gonna go there to win it, we want those four points. So if we can take an aggressive option and go out there and execute, to put ourselves in a position to win the game, then I think we’ll do that.”

Australia’s batters will have to step up in the absence of Rachael Haynes and Meg Lanning. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

With an array of all-rounders, pace bowlers and spinners at her disposal, Healy knows that the XI she picks for this Test, Australia’s first of three over the next eight months, will be rich with talent.

“It’s going to be a hard choice,” she says. “You look at the gap that Meg is leaving, do you bring a batter in or is it an opportunity to play another spinner or another pace bowler?

“[It’s] three Tests in very different conditions, which is the beauty of Test cricket in the men‘s game, that you get to play right around the world and test your ability.

“It gives a lot of the girls in our squad an opportunity to get a run at Test cricket and nail down a spot. We‘ll have to look at the balance of the side and work out where we might be deficient.”

Originally published as Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy explain Aussie blueprint for a women’s Ashes like never before