Australia set on T20 clean sweep

Not content with just retaining the Women’s Ashes, Australia’s sights are set on a T20 series clean sweep, says spearhead Megan Schutt.

Australia sealed the Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes Series yesterday with a six-wicket win at North Sydney Oval in the first T20 international thanks to Schutt’s career-best 4-22 and Beth Mooney’s blazing 86no.

Having won the ODI series 2-1 and drawn the Test match, Australia needed just one win in the T20I series to retain the trophy they won in 2015, and now that’s in the bag the hosts want to finish off the successful campaign in style.

“We wanted to win that first game and have two games to play with freedom,” Schutt told reporters in Canberra on Saturday.

“We haven’t won a T20 series in a little while and that is something we are quite aware of.

“So, we want to come out and play some aggressive cricket.”

If Australia are to achieve their goal they will need to buck a poor recent record in bilateral T20I series.

Australia have not won a bilateral T20I series of more than one game since August 2015 when they defeated Ireland 3-0.

Since then, they’ve lost series to England (away), India (home) and New Zealand twice (away and home), with the scoreline reading 2-1 on each occasion.

Australia also made the final of the Women’s World T20 in India last year but lost to a rampant West Indies outfit in the showpiece match.

Standing in Australia’s way will be an England team desperate to leave the country with the series ledger level.

“That's a big carrot for us,” England captain Heather Knight said in the wake of the loss last night.

“If we can finish the series really well and finish the mini T20 series with a 2-1 win I think would be a great effort.

“Most of the girls are really hurting at the moment but we want to turn it around quickly and finish the tour with a bit of a high.”

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 4-2

Australia T20 squad: Sarah Aley, Alex Blackwell, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (c), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, 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 Match drawn

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