Ashes rivals encounter day-night dilemma

Australia and England encountered a parallel problem on day two of their respective day-night practice games, that being how to conjure a wicket when the pink ball gets old.

Both national sides entered Saturday’s play on top but by the time the sun kissed the horizon it was their unheralded opponents who had the upper hand due to defiant centuries from Naomi Stalenberg in Sydney and Angela Reakes in Canberra.

Having been reduced to 6-111, the ACT Invitational XI put on stands of 67 and an unbeaten 112 between Reakes (103no) and South African import Marizanne Kapp in 31 overs to thwart the Australians as skipper Rachael Haynes tried seven bowlers including herself.

In Sydney it was a similar story, as Stalenberg (114) combined with Delissa Kimmince (19 off 44 balls), Sarah Aley (13 off 48)and Molly Strano (14 off 66) to keep the visitors at bay for 50 overs on her way to a memorable century.

While England sparked a collapse of 4-27 in 12 overs to bowl out the CA XI’s for 271, Australia could pry only three ACT wickets, two coming in the field from run outs by Haynes and Ellyse Perry, before skipper Erin Osborne declared with half an hour to go before the dinner break.

The ODI opening pair of Nicole Bolton and Alyssa Healy was reinstated and survived before Australia’s batters all made starts against the pink ball under lights, with Villani leading the charge with an innings-high 48, as Australia finished the day at 2-126 holding a lead of 108 runs.

While at stumps in Sydney, England reached 3-87 with Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver at the crease.

On batter-friendly wickets, like the one found in the nation’s capital this weekend, once the pink ball goes soft and no longer swings, it’s tough work for the bowlers.

This phenomenon is not only isolated to women’s cricket, as Australia’s men can testify.

Last summer Steve Smith’s men needed 145 overs to bowl out Pakistan in the maiden pink-ball Test at the Gabba in Brisbane where the tourists came within 40 runs of chasing down an improbably 490 to win.

"It’s really important when you’re not getting a lot out of the ball and it’s looking like a good batting deck to try and dry up the runs and create some scoreboard pressure," Villani said after play.

"If we had our time back again we’d try to dry up the runs a little earlier and keep the pressure on the batters."

This scenario is as foreign to the Women’s Ashes combatants as the day-night Test they’re competing in at North Sydney Oval from next Thursday, and it’s exactly why tour/practice matches are so important.

Now both sides can review the footage, analyse their plans and tweak their tactics in time for the first-ever Ashes twilight Test.

At the top of the list will be how to muster wickets in the middle overs between new balls in the daylight hours.

The side that cracks that code will go a long way to claiming the four points on offer in the harbour city next week.

"Hugely valuable," said Villani describing the importance of the tour match.

"Obviously we haven’t experienced (pink-ball cricket) before. At the same time, though, we don’t want to get too carried away with the fact that it’s a pink ball and a day-night Test and that sort of thing because at the end of the day it’s still a cricket ball coming down your way.

"Just trying to keep things really simple but at the same time it was really great to get some valuable experience out there with both the bat and the ball and hopefully we can have another big day tomorrow."

Watch the Women’s Ashes Test LIVE and FREE on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app, with enhanced coverage thanks to the support of Commonwealth Bank.

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 4-2

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

Second ODI Australia won by 75 runs (DLS method)

Third ODI England won by 20 runs (DLS method)

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