Women’s Ashes Test Day 2 Preview – What England Have To Do On Day 2

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Bowl The Australians Out For Under 300

Having had their declaration plans thwarted by Charlotte Edwards pulling back the new ball field last night, Australia will be keen to wrestle back the initiative – push on past 300 in the first hour, then declare. For their part, England must be desperate to stop them – they want to be batting by midday for sure, but on their terms!

Find A Centurion

England can’t afford to concede anything much of a first-innings lead – lets face it, they aren’t going to get Lanning and Perry and Blackwell all out in single-figures again – so they need 300; and 300 is very difficult to get unless someone stands up and scores big runs.

The lesson of Jonassen’s innings yesterday is patience – a word which Sarah Taylor in particular needs tattooed in large, friendly letters on the inside of her brain. The England glove-butler has yet to score even a fifty in 7 Tests, let alone a hundred. Today would be a good day to change that.

Play Day 2 Test Cricket

There was some criticism yesterday on Twitter of the way the game was being played at 2-3 runs per over; but this isn’t a T20 and England would do well to remember that – this is Test cricket, not ice-dancing, and there are no extra points for style. England can’t win the Women’s Ashes today; but they can lose them if they throw their wickets away chasing runs that don’t need to be chased. It is only Day 2 – lets go out and play Day 2 Test cricket!

Random Thoughts: Women’s Ashes Test Day 1

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“Even Stevens”

England quickie Anya Shrubsole’s said afterwards that she felt it was “Even Stevens” at the end of Day 1; and I think she’s basically right – it is nicely poised. England are probably slightly disappointed not to have cleaned-up the tail, while the Australians will be greatly relieved to have reached 268, from a position where a sub-200 total looked a real possibility. There’s everything to play for on Day 2, including personal milestones tantalisingly in-reach for the day’s stars: Shrubsole and Jess Jonassen.

Anya Shrubsole

The cloudy, damp conditions which persisted all day at Canterbury were tailor-made for England’s swing-meister-in-chief, Anya Shrubsole, who took full advantage to take 4/59. Her lines were slightly off earlier on, particularly to the left-handed Bolton, but she came roaring back in her second spell, assisted by some excellent slip-catching from Heather Knight, who bagged two chances which while straightforward were never easy. Like Brunt, Shrubsole looked tired by the end of the day, but she’ll be back tomorrow and fired-up looking for that fifth wicket to get her name on the board.

Jess Jonassen

Although technically a “Test débutante” Jess “JJ” Jonassen has played over 50 internationals for the Southern Stars, so she has plenty of experience which she called upon today in making 95* – her highest international score to date. It wasn’t a faultless innings; and it wasn’t a chanceless innings, but it was exactly what Australia needed to take an under-par total to something which they will feel is very defensible as the pitch starts to work more in favour of the spinners later in the Test.

The Declaration That Wasn’t

Jonassen admitted in the press conference that Australia were looking to declare around half-way through the final session. After the new ball was taken, the message was sent out to “have fun” and look to put enough runs on the board to have a dart at the English openers tonight. However, England wised up to the plan, moved the fielders back, and it wasn’t to be.

It would have been an interesting scenario though – certainly England wouldn’t ideally have wanted to face just a handful of overs tonight; but as it is, we’ll be back tomorrow to see if Jonassen can complete her century and/ or Shrubsole her five-for.

It’s A Test!

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It’s a cold, wet Tuesday morning in Canterbury but there is a palpable sense of excitement in the air. The press box is already full and the England batsmen are practising in the nets below us. Everyone knows: this actually isn’t just “a” Test… it’s “The Test”.

Unlike in The Other Game, Women’s Test matches aren’t two-a-penny – 2014 was unusual in that there were three in an entire calendar year – Australia v England, England v India and India v South Africa.

This year, this is likely to be the only Women’s Test played anywhere in the world; and for these teams, this could be the last Test they play until 2018.

So you can understand why both captains seemed just that little bit more ‘up for it’ in their press conferences yesterday; and why all the players this morning are wearing such broad smiles of excitement tinged with perhaps a touch of nerves, as they warm-up in their brand new, starch-white jerseys.

For everyone here, Test cricket is still the pinnacle; and its relative scarcity means its value is beyond priceless.

It is a huge day for the players, a huge day for England and Australia, and a huge day for Women’s Cricket.

We can’t wait to get started!

POLL: Pick Your England Test Team

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You’re not Charlotte Edwards* but if you were, who would you be walking out onto the field with at Canterbury tomorrow?

(Plus see below for our teams!)

 

Syd’s Team

“For what it’s worth, I’d pick Wilson and Winfield, and rest Nat Sciver whose batting is more suited to a One Day role.”

  1. Edwards
  2. Knight
  3. Wilson
  4. Taylor
  5. Winfield
  6. Greenway
  7. Brunt
  8. Shrubsole
  9. Gunn
  10. Cross
  11. Grundy

Raf’s Team

“Were she available for selection, I’d have to go with Amy Jones, after her 155* for the Academy last week. But she isn’t…so I’ve picked the next best batting line-up! I’d play Laura Marsh instead of Becky Grundy to shore up the lower-order batting (I think we’re gonna need it!)”

  1. Edwards
  2. Knight
  3. Taylor
  4. Wilson
  5. Greenway
  6. Sciver
  7. Brunt
  8. Gunn
  9. Marsh
  10. Shrubsole
  11. Cross

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* At least… we assume you’re not Charlotte Edwards. However, if  you are Charlotte Edwards, then we do have just one question: WHY ARE YOU WASTING YOUR TIME MESSING ABOUT ON SILLY INTERNET POLLS THE DAY BEFORE A WOMEN’S ASHES TEST?!?!

Women’s Test Records

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Highest Total: 569 (Australia)

At Guildford in 1998, Australia declared at 569/6 in their first innings, after England (batting first) had posted 414. The match ended in a draw, with England 160/1 in their second knock.

Highest Score: 242 (Kiran Baluch, Pakistan)

At Karachi in 2004, opener Kiran Baluch hit 242 as Pakistan posted 426/7d batting first against West Indies. Pakistan bowled West Indies out for just 147 and enforced the follow-on; but West Indies saved the game with a second-innings of 440.

Lowest Total: 35 (England)

At Melbourne in 1958 England won the toss and asked Australia to bat – a decision which seemed vindicated as the Aussies were bowled out for the (then) lowest ever total in Women’s Tests – 38. It wasn’t a record that lasted long however; as Australia then knocked England over for 35. Amazingly however, the 3-day match still ended in a draw, as both teams made better work of their second knocks.

Best Bowling: 8/53 (Neetu David, India)

Indian spinner Neetu David is the only women to have taken 8 wickets in a Test innings, taking 8/53 in England’s second innings at Jamshedpur in 1995. It wasn’t quite enough however – England won the match by just 2 runs!

Women’s International Championship Update

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With Round 3 of the Women’s International Championship now completed, Australia sit way out ahead after their 4-2 points victory over England. Meanwhile, coming up in Round 4, England face South Africa and Australia travel to India.

Australia 16
South Africa 11
West Indies 10
England 9
Pakistan 8
New Zealand 8
Sri Lanka 5
India 5

With the top 4 teams automatically qualifying for the 2017 World Cup, England’s defeat in the Women’s Ashes ODI series means they end Round 3 in the right half of the table… but only just! Given that Australia have all-but qualified, the real battle is for places 2-through-4 and no one is out of that scrap yet by any means.

The big series of Round 4 is England v 2nd-placed South Africa. England will play 3 ODIs (February 7th, 12th & 14th) and 3 T20s (February 18th, 19th & 21st) against the Women Proteas in South Africa; and three wins for Mignon du Preez’ side would not only leave them very nicely placed for automatic qualification but potentially put England in a bit of trouble, given that New Zealand will be looking to take a maximum 6 points from their home series with Sri Lanka.

Also next February, Australia host India. Those matches take place just days after the climax of the Women’s Big Bash, so the Southern Stars will be match-fit, but (the Indians might also be hoping) perhaps also a little tired after the intensities of their domestic season. India will obviously be desperate to take something from that series; but keep in mind that the bottom 4 teams can still make the World Cup via the qualifying tournament – something which you’d certainly expect India to do.

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UPDATE: This article was updated on 09/08/15 – thanks to The Clanger for calling-out my dodgy maths – see below!

Random Thoughts: England’s Test Squad

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A few brief thoughts on England’s Test squad:

Fran Wilson

Wilson has been rewarded for a solid season with the bat, both for the Academy and for Middlesex. It is a big step up from Division 2 to Division 1 – as Lancashire are proving, having cruised Division 2 last season and completely tanked in Division 1 with basically exactly the same team. In making that step, Wilson has shown the one thing England really need right now: temperament! If she plays (and that is still a big “if”) it will be for that.

Amy Jones

Jones has been very unlucky. Again. (And how many times have we said that?) Her unbeaten century for the Academy, against exactly the same bowlers England will face in the Test, bowling their hearts out because their team isn’t inked-in yet, shows that she has the technique; but yet it all seems to fall apart when she steps into the arena of full international cricket. Why? It can only be a mind thing; and being in and out of the team like a yo-yo, never quite sure of her place, really really can’t be helping!

Alex Hartley

England have missed a trick in not considering Hartley – the best (available) attacking spinner we have at the moment – in a series-situation where (I think… others disagree) that they need to attack. I have an inkling that this is partly because she is perceived as a bit of a “Genuine No. 11” but honestly… if England are selecting their No. 11 partly for her batting, then God help them!

It does also seem that England’s management find it very hard to accept that players can change. Two years ago, Hartley was apparently going nowhere… so as far as England are concerned, she’s still going nowhere! But people do change – they grow up between 19 and 21 – and Hartley is a different player now to the one they (rightly) didn’t rate when they were first discussing who would (and would not) get a contract. England seem to be doing themselves a disservice by not recognising that.

OPINION: We Need To Talk About Play Cricket

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Play Cricket is the official scorecard for the women’s county cricket in this country; but there’s no way to sugar-coat this: it’s not fit for purpose.

Let’s try to look up the stats of England’s surprise Test squad selection, Middlesex’s Fran Wilson – something that quite a lot of journalists are probably trying to do right now.

So… do we mean this Fran Wilson, who plays for Middlesex and averages 32; or this Fran Wilson, who plays for Middlesex and averages 70? Yes… Fran is in there twice – each Fran having played 4 games!

A similar problem (now apparently corrected) occurred earlier this year with Tammy Beaumont, but at least there was a (sort-of) excuse that time: she was listed as “Tammy” and “Tamsin”.

The folks who developed Play Cricket would probably argue that this is “user error” (also known in the trade as a “BCK Exception” – standing for “Between Chair and Keyboard”) but good software doesn’t let users hang themselves like this – it should be checking for similar (or in the case of Fran identical) names when the scorecard is uploaded!

But these aren’t the only problems. Off the top of my head:

  • There is no search facility. (Unless I’ve missed it… in which case this is still the developers’ fault!)
  • The site is quite literally unusable on an iPhone because the menus are broken.
  • The user experience on any tablet or mobile (or indeed any laptop or netbook with a screen-height of 768px or less – i.e. an awful lot of them) is terrible, with nested scroll-bars and a plethora of popups which make back-navigation impossible.

In short, Play Cricket needs to go for a walk.

A long walk.

A “Captain Oates” walk.

Because we’ve got a brand-new Super League coming next year for women’s cricket in England; and it needs an official scorecard that works.

MATCH REPORT: Cumbria Beat Lincolnshire But Young Imps Shine

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Beth Smith reports from Netherfield CC.

The Imps were on the road again on Sunday, travelling up to Cumbria with an extremely young side: the average age of the travelling team was just 18! The first game for Lincs was against the hosts, Cumbria – the first time the teams had met this season. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.

Two of the four senior players for Lincs, Amy Halloran (1-17) and Sarah McDowell (0-19), took the new ball and Cumbria got off to a quick start reaching 30-1 off the first 4 overs; the wicket coming from Halloran when the first junior got into the action with Ellie Stanley (U15) taking a sharp catch.

More experience came with the first change as Beth Smith took over from Halloran, opening her spell with a wicket maiden as U17 keeper India Freeman used quick hands to get Montgomery stumped, leaving the hosts 30-2 off 5. The mini Imps – Sammy-Jo Boothright (U15), Olivia Clark (U15), Becki Brooker (U17) and Amelia Gardner (U15) – then had their chance to shine, bowling in tandem with Smith before taking over completely to bowl the remaining overs.

Smith ended her overs with 2-17, her second wicket coming when Cowper skied a ball towards the youngest player in the squad, Clark (13), who took the challenging catch off her manager’s bowling which left the hosts 62-3. The mini Imps bowled their lines and length with Brooker (1-29) and Gardner (1-16) each gaining a deserved wicket. But the strength and experience of the more senior Cumbria batsmen came through as they more than doubled their halfway score ending on 145-5 with Sykes finishing on 48*.

Opening U17 pair, Freeman and Brooker, opened for the Ladies in reply and got off to a solid start with a partnership of 47 before Freeman was run out looking to increase the run rate. Halloran joined an in-form Brooker at the crease and the two stayed there for the remaining overs; both batted elegantly with prominent U17 captain Brooker showing her talent and reaching her 50.

However, tight bowling leading to a slow start meant the Imps required 26 off the last over. 2 dot balls and 3 singles were taken before Brooker, looking to end the innings in style, mistimed her shot and ended up caught and bowled on the last ball for 56.

A loss in the first game and the second being abandoned due to rain meant a dull day for the Imps, but spirits were kept high and the ladies will return to Cumbria on 30th August to face the same team in the 50-over format and will look to seek revenge. The mini Imps all held their own and their performances bode well for the rest of their respective Junior seasons: two 40-over games and the annual Malvern Tour for the U15s to look forward to, with the U17s having a T20 round left, along with five 45-over games.

A full scorecard can be found here.

NEWS: England Women’s Ashes Test Squad Announced

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The ECB have announced a 14-player squad to contest next week’s Women’s Ashes Test match against Australia at Canterbury.

The big news is the recall of Middlesex’s Fran Wilson to the squad, on the back of her recent excellent form with the bat for both the England Academy and her county this season. She was one of England’s top-performers in the Academy games against the Aussie Shooting Stars in UAE earlier this year, with scores of 57, 50, 45 and 18 in the 50-over matches. Most recently, she made 55 against the Australians in the two-day practice game at Loughborough last weekend.

England go into the Test match (which is worth 4 points for a win) 2-4 down in the series on points, having lost the second and third ODIs at Bristol and Worcester. The selection of Wilson in place of Amy Jones – who finished the ODI series with scores of 15 and 0 before being dropped for the third game – suggests that England want to shore up their batting after poor performances in the last two ODIs, where they were bowled out for 196 and 152 respectively.

Wilson has previously featured in a handful of ODIs and T20s, but should she be selected in the starting XI on Tuesday it would be her first time in an England shirt since 2011. It would also be her Test debut. She is the first non-contracted player to feature in an England squad since Sonia Odedra’s selection for last summer’s Test against India at Wormsley.

The squad is otherwise unchanged from that which contested the 3 ODIs.

The full squad is as follows:

  • Charlotte Edwards (Kent)
  • Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire)
  • Kate Cross (Lancashire)
  • Georgia Elwiss (Sussex)
  • Lydia Greenway (Kent)
  • Becky Grundy (Warwickshire)
  • Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire)
  • Heather Knight (Berkshire)
  • Laura Marsh (Kent)
  • Nat Sciver (Surrey)
  • Anya Shrubsole (Somerset)
  • Sarah Taylor (Sussex)
  • Fran Wilson (Middlesex)
  • Lauren Winfield (Yorkshire)