South Austrlia Scorpions (246) bt Westen Australia Fury (157)

New Zealander Sophie Devine, who earlier this year smashed a T20 half-century off just 18 balls against India, was at it again for South Australia today hitting 56 off 54 against Western Australia at the WACA. Coming in at 7 with the Scorpions in a little bit of bother at 148-6, she dragged them on towards a decent total, putting on 30 with Sarah Coyte and then dominating a 65 run partnership with Sam Betts.

The Fury’s reply got off to a disastrous start, with Elyse Villani out for a duck in the first over… and it was pretty-much downhill after that as (…who else?) Sophie Devine took 4-17. Nicole Bolton was in good form again, making 71, but for the second time this weekend she found herself propping up a losing cause as WA subsided to 157 all out.

The bonus point win puts the Scorpions top of WNCL after 2 games, level on points with Vic Spirit who are pushed into second on net run rate.

South Australia Scorpions (281-5) bt New South Wales Breakers (280-7)

England glove-butler Sarah Taylor smashed 101 off just 103 balls as the Scorpions posted 281, with Bridget Patterson (72) and captain Lauren Ebsary (72*)  also contributing.

The Breakers’ reply was all about Alex Blackwell. who built big partnerships with Ellyse Perry (36) and Nicola Carey (45) on her way to 118* but brilliant death-bowling from Megan Shcutt (4-42) saw NSW fall just short.

Vic Spirit (114-8) bt Tasmania Roar (110)

In a low-scoring match in Brisbane, Extras (26) top-scored for the Roar, as they were bowled out for 110, with leg-spinner Kristen Beams taking 3-24.

Vic Spirit made hard-work of their riposte – losing 8 wickets along the way to 114, with only Sarah Elliot (30) Kirsty Lamb (24*) and Meg Lanning (18) making it into double-figures, although they did get the runs quickly enough to grab a vital bonus point.

Queensland Fire (255-6) bt ACT Meteors (244-9)

From a potentially disastrous 11-3, the Fire recovered to post 255, mainly thanks to a massive 4th-wicket stand of 193 from Jess Jonassen (82) and Delissa Kimmince (100).

In response, opener Katie Mack gave the Meteors some belief through the middle overs, until she hesitated slightly after calling a sharp single and was run out for 61. ACT soldiered-on in what was very-much a team effort, helped by a number of dropped catches in the field, but ended their 50 overs 11 runs short at 244-9, with Sammy-Jo Johnson taking 3-37 for the Fire.

ACT Meteors (184/3) bt Tasmania Roar (182)

New Zealand’s Lea Tahuhu took 3-12 as Tasmania were bowled out for 182 in the final over; with Berkshire overseas Crinny Hall top-scoring for the Roar with 64.

Katie Mack then made 67 and Sara McGlashan 62* as the Meteors chased them down inside 38 overs – McGlashan winning the game with a 6!

Vic Spirit (246/4) bt Queensland Fire (245/7)

Southern Star Grace Harris opened for Queensland, smashing 67 off 56 balls, with Kirby Short (60) and Beth Mooney (49) also chipping-in as the Fire posted 245/7, with England’s Danni Wyatt taking 3-40.

Victoria got the runs with an over to spare, with Sarah Eliot (52) and Meg Lanning (89*) making the key contributions.

New South Wales Breakers (220/9) bt Western Australia Fury (219/5)

Western Australia got off to a furious [*sorry!] start with Nicole Bolton hitting the first century of this season’s WNCL – 104 off 141 balls- after an opening stand of 143 with Elyse Villani (48). The Fury lost steam a bit towards the end, but still managed to reach 219 for the loss of 5 down, with England’s Laura Marsh bowling 10 wicketless overs for 33.

In reply, fifties from Rachel Haynes (72) and Ellyse Perry (57) looked to have put the Breakers in a strong position. However a late collapse made things very squeaky for NWS, but they were nevertheless somehow able to scrape over the line with 9 wickets down and just one ball remaining!

The ECB has announced this morning that it has bowed to pressure and will permit contracted England players to remain in Australia for the full duration of the WBBL, allowing them to participate in the final… if of course, their team makes it that far in the franchise competition!

The ECB had been reluctant to sanction this, because England’s tour to South Africa follows so hot on the heels of the WBBL; but after petitioning from Cricket Australia and the players themselves they have given way.

Now, instead of coming home to England, the 7 WBBL players – Charlotte Edwards and Katherine Brunt (Perth Scorchers), Heather Knight (Hobart Hurricanes), Kate Cross and Lauren Winfield (Brisbane Heat), Sarah Taylor (Adelaide Strikers) and Danielle Wyatt (Melbourne Renegades) – will fly directly to South Africa, where the ECB has arranged a pre-tour training camp for the entire England squad at the High Performance Institute of Sport in Potchefstroom.

This is good news all-round and CRICKETher commends all parties involved for getting around the table and thrashing out a solution that works for the good of the game, the fans and the England team too.

Want to be England Women’s next head coach? You’d better get your skates on – the ECB’s application process closes in just over two weeks time, on October 23rd.

In the job spec seen by CRICKETher, ECB state that they are looking for a Level 3 coach, with First Class or international experience. (Level 3 is typically the minimum prerequisite for men’s First Class (i.e. county professional) coaching jobs; with Level 4 generally required for men’s international coaching roles.)

The appointment is for a 3-year contract, taking the team beyond the 2017 World Cup in England; and the job spec emphasises that long-term planning is a big part of the role.

Interestingly, the ECB have also said very explicitly that they want someone who is prepared to “develop effective working relationships with those coaching in the women’s County game” – something current incumbent Paul Shaw was reputedly notoriously reluctant to muddy himself with.

The Times has published a piece by TMS’s Alison Mitchell, linking ex-England (Men’s) Coach Peter Moores with the vacancy for England Women’s Head Coach.

CRICKETher thinks it is pretty unlikely that Mitchell wrote this piece without talking to Moores, so the conclusion would appear to be that he has said (at least codedly) that he wants the job*.

Furthermore, Clare Connor has told the BBC:

“The qualities and experiences we are looking for are going to be found more than likely with a coach who has worked at as high a level as possible in the men’s game.”

Connor continued (as if it wasn’t already clear enough) that the person who gets the job is “more than likely going to be a man”. She didn’t quite go on to add that he was “more than likely going to be called Peter too”… but she might as well have done!

Despite having been sacked not once but twice from the Men’s Head Coach role, Moores remains a very-much respected figure at ECB Towers; and his England stints aside, he has a very strong track record, being the only coach in history to have won the (Men’s) County Championship with two different sides: Sussex and Lancashire.

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* UPDATE: 14/10/15 – Mitchell said on TMS today that she had NOT spoken to Moores.

Reports from India suggest that the BCCI are still hoping that their tour to Australia next January / February might include a one-off Test match, which would be the first time the sides have met in the format since 2006.

India’s motives are clear enough – with Tests counting towards the new ICC Team Rankings, and with the longest form of the game being perhaps their strongest suit, it looks like India’s best opportunity to gain ranking points on what will undoubtedly be a very tough tour for them.

However, the timetable for a Test is looking rather tight. India are scheduled to play 3 T20s and 3 ODIs, the last of which takes place in Hobart on February 7th. There are then less than two weeks before Australia’s first ‘Rose Bowl’ match in New Zealand on February 20th.

Coupled with Australia’s long-term reluctance to play Tests, mainly for commercial reasons, it therefore looks like a long shot; but the fact that it is even being discussed and backed by the BCCI – the world’s most powerful governing body – has to be considered good news for the future of women’s Test cricket.