Wellington puts England in a spin

Looking at the scorecard of Sunday’s opening Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes Series ODI in Brisbane you wouldn’t think leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington played an integral role in Australia’s tense two-wicket win.

Wellington’s figures of 0-39 from 10 overs appear unremarkable, but in cricket the numbers tell only half the story.

Picked ahead of fellow leg-spinner Kristen Beams, Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the Women’s World Cup the winter just gone, Wellington had big shoes to fill on the perhaps the grandest stage for an Australian cricketer.

Called on to bowl the 13th over with England 1-59 having been sent in, the 20-year-old found a good length immediately that challenged the hosts’ star-studded top-order.

England’s history against leg-spin ain’t great – read Shane Warne, 1993-2007 – and AJW would have made SKW proud with the drift and raging spin she extracted from the dry Allan Border Field wicket.

While she repeatedly beat the outside edge she couldn’t nab a wicket, but her opening four-over spell of 0-11 stifled England’s batters, and one over after she was taken off she returned with six dot balls to England skipper Heather Knight.

“Wellington bowled very well,” Knight said after play on Sunday.

“She was their biggest threat with her turning the ball big away from the bat.

“With the bounce as well it was quite tricky to get her away through the off-side.

“As players we prepare for that but we probably reined ourselves in because she was their biggest wicket-taking threat at the time.”

Wellington’s initial spell put the brakes on England’s innings that could only muster 9-228, about 20 runs short of their goal, and gave Australia a target just short enough to successfully chase down.

The South Australian’s efforts were not lost on her adoring teammates.

“Amanda is a quality cricketer,” said vice-captain Alex Blackwell. “She’s very exciting to watch, she’s always in the game. Even when she came into bat I had great confidence she could help finish off the game.

“The way she bowled today was very good on a really good batting wicket, so her ability to turn the ball did have a big impact on the game.

“Seeing that England look to try and just take ones and twos and stay in their crease when Amanda came on, they looked at her specifically and planned well for her but she still had a big impact on the game.”

The Women’s Ashes now moves to Coffs Harbour for the final two ODIs in the multi-format series, the coastal city where Wellington made her ODI debut 11 months ago in a memorable tie against South Africa.

She claimed 1-35 from 10 overs in that match – hands down Australia’s best bowler on the day – and has gone on to play six ODIs and three T20I since.

National and state teammate Megan Schutt knows first-hand what it’s like facing Wellington and her ripping leg-breaks, and she’s glad they’re aimed at England and not her at practice.

“She’s always a good turner of the ball but on flat wicket when she’s still ripping it like that it was beautiful to watch,” Schutt said.

“Coming from South Australia I get out to that a lot in the nets so it’s nice to see it against the Poms.”

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 2-0

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule

First ODI Australia won by two wickets

Brisbane Charity Partner: Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust

Second ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 26

Third ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 29

Coffs Junior Cricket Association Partners: Coffs Harbour District JCA, Nambucca Bellingen JCA, and Clarence River JCA

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT