Women’s Ashes 2019, England Women v Australia Women: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

The only Test of the ongoing Women’s Ashes will begin at County Ground, Taunton, from July 18. They might have converted the Women’s Ashes a contest decided by points, but there is little doubt that the Test is the marquee event of the series, more so because England and Australia have been the only Women’s teams to play Test cricket in almost five years now.

Australia Women have taken a 6-0 lead by winning all 3 ODIs. The Test series win will give them 4 points, and with that, the series. Even a draw (2 points each) will help them retain The Ashes. They had an excellent outing in the tour match against the England Academy Women at Marlborough, winning by 240 runs.

England Women were routed by the seam bowling of Ellyse Perry, Delissa Kimmince, and Megan Schutt in the ODIs. The trio will be ones to keep out. However, they do have a very strong batting line-up, and the new ball does not do as much in Taunton. It will be a tough ask, but with their backs to the wall, England should be able to pull something around.

Head to head

Australia Women hold a 12-9 record, but more importantly, a whopping 28 out of 49 Tests have been drawn. Australia Women also lead 2-1 (from 5 Tests) this decade, and 6-4 on English soil.

Key players

Heather Knight (England Women): In the last Ashes Test, at Sydney in 2017-18, she had scored 62 in the first innings. Then she batted 220 balls for her unbeaten 79 to save the Test. She had also slammed 157 in the 2013 Ashes Test at Wormsley. So there.

Ellyse Perry (Australia Women): Perry had slammed 213 not out the last time a Women’s Test was played. In the recently concluded ODIs, she picked up 11 wickets at 9.54 including 7/22 in the last match. More success awaits the greatest all-rounder in contemporary women’s cricket at Taunton.

Likely XIs

England Women: Lauren Winfield, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Sarah Taylor (wk), Georgia Elwiss, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole, Laura Marsh, Sophie Ecclestone.

Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk), Nicole Bolton, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachel Haynes, Beth Mooney, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Delissa Kimmince, Jess Jonassen.

Prediction

Australia Women to retain The Ashes after a draw.