The Women’s Ashes 2015 – Only Test: Australia set it up; knock it down

Australia Women 9d/274 (JL Jonassen 99, A Shrubsole 4/63)
England Women 168 (ML Schutt 4/26, EA Perry 3/38)
Australia Women 6d/156 (JL Jonassen 54)
England Women 101 (EA Perry 6/32)
Australia Women won by 161 runs

Australia Women rolled England Women for 101 on the fourth day to win the Test by 161 runs. Ellyse Perry took 6/32 from 16 overs (adding to her first innings haul of 3/38 from 17). On debut and batting at #6, Jess Jonassen won player of the match for her 99 and 54 as well as a first innings wicket. Handy debut.

Women’s cricket has been around a while, but of course receives scant attention relative to that of the men. Why this should be is a hefty topic for another time. For now, this is the match summary of the only Test match to be played between England and Australia this (northern) summer. Media interest in women’s cricket seems to be growing though. The scheduling of this 4-day Test, between the men’s 4th and 5th Tests, while cricket media were in the area, was a good move. Neither team plays much Test cricket. The game would take some winning.

The match itself was played at the St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury.

Day 1

Australia won the toss and batted, reaching 8/268 at stumps, despite the loss of captain and run machine Meg Lanning for just 3. From 0/66, Australia was 2/70 when MM Lanning (3) was dismissed. When Ellyse Perry (5) fell at 4/87, Jess Jonassen walked to the crease on debut. Anya Shrubsole had taken all four wickets. Australia lost Alex Blackwell (7) at 5/99, but JL Jonassen put on runs with wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy (39). At 8/206, Kristen Beams joined JL Jonassen and they carried Australia to a happy total at stumps (JL Jonassen 95*).

Day 2

Jess Jonassen resuming on 95*, unfortunately fell lbw for 99 (perhaps going down leg side), whereupon Australia declared their first innings closed 9d/274. England started tentatively. Ellyse Perry struck twice in her second over and the Poms were 2/7. They never really recovered, with no partnerships of more than about 30 runs. Megan Schutt (4/26) and Ellyse Perry (3/38) doing the damage. England all out 168, behind by 106 on first innings.

Day 3

Only 38 overs were possible on Day 3 due to English summer rain. On a difficult day for cricket generally, Australia pushed on to 4/90 (Alex Blackwell 15*, Jess Jonassen 29*), latter-day run machine captain Meg Lanning collecting a globe this time. The lead was up to 196 with one day to play.

Day 4

Jess Jonassen collected 54 as Australia went for quick runs. The declaration came before lunch. England were set 263 to win; Australia had two and a bit sessions to take ten wickets. This is how it unfolded on Twitter:

@CricketAus England 0-7 chasing 263 to win – @SouthernStars need 10 wickets. Game on in Kent.

@SouthernStars BOWLED! Taylor drags Perry on to go for a pair! Eight to go! England 2-12

@SouthernStars Lunch! Terrific session that. Chasing 263, England are 2-16, needing 247 more to win. Eight to go!

@SouthernStars OUT! Pez strikes first ball after lunch, nicking out Edwards behind for 1! England 3-16. Seven to go!

@SouthernStars OUT! @megan_schutt has her first, trapping Winfield lbw with in inswinger for 12. 5 to go! England 4-27

@CricketAus England in all sorts at 5-29 as @megan_schutt grabs a second, Sciver goes.

@SouthernStars OUT! Bizarre dismissal! Perry’s bouncer doesn’t bounce and bowls Greenway for 16. England 6-80

@SouthernStars BOWLED! Perry is on a hat-trick! Shapes away and takes Marsh’s off stump for a pair! 7-80. Three to go!

 

 

@SouthernStars OUT! Only one needed now! Lewis chips Perry to Schutt at mid-on for 46. Pez has 6-28. England 9-97.

@SouthernStars VICTORY! Coyle has Shrubsole lbw and England are all out for 101. We’ve won by 161 runs!

@SouthernStars Five star performance from our girls!

===

That’s a solid win. Some audio-visual coverage is linked below.

See all of Ellyse Perry’s 2nd innings wickets here.

Listen to Meg Lanning and Jess Jonassen full media conference here:

 

About David Wilson

David Wilson is a hydrologist, climate reporter and writer of fiction & observational stories. He writes under the name “E.regnans” at The Footy Almanac and has stories in several books. One of his stories was judged as a finalist in the Tasmanian Writers’ Prize 2021. He shares the care of two daughters and likes to walk around feeling generally amazed. Favourite tree: Eucalyptus regnans.

Comments

  1. What a marvellous performance. Great job Grrrrls !

    A special mention must be made of Jess Jonassen. What a great debut in a winning side , but what angst 99 on debut must be. Now, is Jess the first Australian to make 99 on their test debut ? Is their someone I’ve missed ?

    Glen!

  2. Good question Glen.
    No idea.

    Great to see an Australian side over there having no trouble with the presence of partners, the swinging Duke ball, or English conditions.

    Well done those women.

  3. Wayne Ball says

    Well done Dave.

    At grass roots level, girls cricket has never been more popular. Here’s hoping more take up the game.

  4. Luke Reynolds says

    Thanks Dave, great coverage. What a pity there’s only one Test. Was a shame no broadcaster decided to televise it in Australia, especially as it was televised in England.
    Fantastic win, especially with not many runs coming from Lanning and Perry.

  5. Malcolm Ashwood says

    Thanks OBP and ditto above comments

  6. Whoops as i have done far too regularly over the last few years i didn’t do a final check of my post before submitting it. What i meant to say waas; “Is Jess the first Australian, since Arthur Chipperfield in 1934, to make 99 on their debut?” So that’s corrected my error. I recall Ricky Ponting making 96 on debut, i know Ian Redpath made 97 on debut, but are Jess and Arthur Chipperfield the only two to have scored 99 on debut?

    Glen!

  7. Australia v England T20 to be shown live on free-to-air TV next Monday.
    Reported here in The Age:
    http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/womens-ashes-2015-final-match-on-freetoair-tv-20150825-gj7kmj.html

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