England Women vs Australia Women 1st ODI: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

With most of the global cricket fans engrossed in the ongoing Men’s World Cup the women’s team from England and Australia are all set to resume their age-old rivalry. The Women’s Ashes, which is currently a point- based series where each match has a point allocated to it, will start from Tuesday with the first ODI at Grace Road, Leicester. Australians currently have the Ashes and England Women team under Heather Knight will be keen to win it back.

Along with Knight, the hosts will depend on Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Sarah Taylor and Danielle Wyatt for putting a big total on board. For bowling, they have Anya Shrubsole to lead the pace attack along with Kate Cross and Katherine Brunt. Sophie Ecclestone will take care of the spin department. England have also recalled batter Fran Wilson, who took that brilliant catch against West Indies, and all-rounder Jenny Gunn.

Australia have a huge boost as their experienced captain Meg Lanning is back. They will also have last year’s T20 World Cup player of the tournament, Alyssa Healy. Healy was also the ICC T20 player of the year and would like to carry her good limited over form. In Ellyse Perry they have one of the game’s leading all-rounders. She scored a brilliant 213 in the last Women’s Ashes test and will look to stamp her authority in the ODI series. They have also included pace bowler Tayla Vlaeminck for the series.

Head to Head

These two teams have history and that’s what makes this rivalry special. So far they have met in 75 ODI matches. Australia Women have clear domination with 49 wins and only 22 defeats.

Key Players

Amy Jones: Amy Jones became regular in England set up due to the absence of Sarah Taylor. She showed good wicket-keeping skills and also scored vital runs at the top of the order. She was particularly successful in the World T20 last year. Now even after Taylor’s return in the team, Jones has kept her place as a specialist batsman and England will hope for a good start from her.

Alyssa Healy: Alyssa Healy is having an exceptional 12 months and would love to carry on her form. With efficient pace bowlers like Shrubsole and Brunt at the opposition camp, how Healey starts off that can play a key role in deciding the results. Mitchell Starc is having a brilliant World Cup in England and Healy would love to bring more success to the family.

Likely XIs

England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Sarah Taylor (wk), Danielle Wyatt, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Jenny Gunn, Anya Shrubsole, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone

Australia: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Elyse Villani, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck

Predictions

This can be a close encounter with England having a slight edge.