Stars inspired by whitewash

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' campaign to emulate the Australian men’s team by winning back the Ashes begins on Friday with a four-day Test match at the WACA, the same venue where Michael Clarke's team recently ensured the return of cricket's sacred urn.

And according to newly-appointed vice captain, Meg Lanning, the Australian women plan to take inspiration from the attacking brand of cricket exhibited during the men's five-nil whitewash against England.

Although the level of verbal aggression isn't likely to reach the same intensity in the Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes Series, Lanning says the Southern Stars liked the attacking style of play on show from the likes of Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin.

"It's been amazing to watch really," said Lanning. "The passion they've played with is really inspiring and I think they've shown just how quickly things can turn around.

"It wasn't long ago that they were in a similar position to us and we weren't playing as good as we could have," she admitted. "It certainly gives us a lot of drive to do well and we're confident that we can."

The Southern Stars are seeking their own form reversal after winning just one game from their seven match tour of England six months ago.

The Australians went into that series hoping to add the Ashes to their ICC WT20 and fifty-over World Cups, but were dominated by the English side on home soil. If they can defeat England this summer it would complete a coveted trio of honours. 

"We were really disappointed with what happened over in the UK," Lanning admitted. "And we know we can play a lot better than that, so we're really keen this time to turn that around and we're sure that, if we play to the best of our ability, we can turn the result.

"I think as a whole group we need to be more consistent with our performances and play our natural games a little bit more," she said. 

"I think maybe we were a little bit too defensive last time we played, especially in the Test match, so certainly that's something we'll be looking to do and we saw that the men played a really attacking style and that really worked well for them."

While playing on familiar wickets in Perth, Melbourne, Hobart and Sydney, is bound to assist the Southern Stars, of greatest advantage is the fact the Australian players have spent the past few months playing regularly in the domestic T20 and 50-over leagues. 

The Southern Stars went into the last series in the middle of their off-season, but this time around it's the England players who will head into the Test without regular competitive cricket behind them.

"We've been in season playing a lot of domestic cricket so we all feel like we're ready and we just can't wait until the Test match comes on Friday," said Lanning.

"It might give us a little bit of an advantage the fact that we're in season and we've been playing a lot of games.

"The fact we've been playing matches rather than the home ground advantage will perhaps go in our favour a little bit."

Some England players have been training in a heat chamber to help them prepare for Australian conditions, but with the mercury set to hover around the 40-degree mark during the four-day Test, the tourists will no doubt be hankering for the relief only the Fremantle doctor can provide.

But Lanning says the Australians can't wait to dial up the heat in Perth, and while the England line up contains some formidable batters in the form of Sarah Taylor and captain Charlotte Edwards, the extra kick from the WACA deck will provide far more assistance to the likes of Ellyse Perry and Holly Ferling than that received from some docile pitches in England.

"I think the fact that we're playing the Test match at the WACA is a good thing for us and it'll suit our attacking style," Lanning said.

"Just being in the nets today, there's certainly a bit of extra bounce and pace there. 

"It's good for batters as well, (the ball) comes on a little bit better," she said. "I think at the WACA if you get the ball in the right area you're certainly going to worry the opposition, and from a batter's perspective it's about getting settled in and then going from there."

The multi-format series is decided on cumulative points, and the stakes are monumentally high for the Perth Test. A win gives one side six points – a huge advantage when you consider the following three One-Day Internationals and three T20 matches are worth two points each. 

In the most recent contest the highlight of the series-opening Test for Australia was a stoic century from new mum Sarah Elliott, who posted the ton with her nine-month-old son Sam in the crowd.  

But while that match eventually petered out to a tame draw, Lanning believes the WACA’s nature makes a result far more likely this time around.

"I really do think there'll be a result here this time," Lanning predicted. "Just being at the WACA, and the pace and bounce, I think the game will always be moving. 

"I've no doubt there'll be a result and we'll see some really attacking cricket being played."

Lanning, one of Australia's most exciting batters, was promoted to the vice-captaincy ahead of this series and is looking forward to taking on a more senior role under captain Jodie Fields.

"It's a real honour to be in that position," Lanning said. "It's not something that I gave too much thought to, but now that I'm there it's something I'm really looking forward to, especially leading into such an exciting series, the Ashes, I can't wait to get into it.

"It's been a long time coming. 

"It's something that we're quite excited about and it's really close so we can't wait for Friday."

2014 Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes Series