Devastation to dominance: Aussies' stunning resurgence

Two years and 10 days ago, Australia's women stood despondent on the outfield of Derby's County Ground, at a loss to explain where it all went wrong.

The world's top-ranked team had been heavily favoured to take out the 50-over World Cup, their only real threat believed to be hosts England.

Instead, they were sensationally knocked out of the tournament semi-finals by India, thanks to Harmanpreet Kaur and her stunning 171 not out.

The soul-searching that followed has been the making of the current outfit, which includes 10 players who were part of that World Cup squad in 2017 alongside the fresh faces of young guns Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck and Nicola Carey, and comeback kid Delissa Kimmince.

Since that heart-breaking loss in Derby, Australia have lost just five games out of 39 across all formats.

And since 2018, they've tasted defeat just twice. 

Both of those defeats have come in T20Is, the most fickle of the formats, and they've swept the likes of India, New Zealand and Pakistan along the way.

"I think there's just a lot more clarity around individuals' roles in the side and that allows players to have freedom in how they go about their business," allrounder Jess Jonassen said in Bristol on Tuesday.

"That allows consistency with people's performances too.

"That's what's really been a positive for us over the last few years, players been able to perform consistently across a long period of time."

It started with a 3-0 ODI series win over India last March. In the tri-series that immediately followed, Meg Lanning's team lost their first clash with England before bouncing back to take out the series without further damage.

A T20 sweep of New Zealand followed, before Australia won all six limited-overs matches they played against Pakistan in Malaysia.

At the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, a group stage loss to India proved the only hiccup on their way to their fourth title. And since that game in Guyana on November 17, they've embarked on an 11-game streak across all formats.

After sweeping New Zealand in a one-day series in February, Australia have yet to taste defeat since arriving in England, with the drawn Test in Taunton the only match not to have fully fallen in their favour.

"We're really positive with how this series has gone so far," Jonassen said.

"We've still got one more job to do and that's hopefully getting another win tomorrow.

"It's been a long series and it's nice that it's been successful. There's a lot of good energy going around the group."

Playing fearless cricket is Australia's mantra. But so too is a commitment to remaining humble, so don't expect to see them shouting it from the rooftops if they do manage to close out an undefeated women's Ashes campaign with victory in Bristol on Wednesday.

"England are a phenomenal side and have been dominant over the last five to six years," allrounder Ellyse Perry said on Sunday.

"They're world champions in the ODI format so to be in the position that we are with one game to go does surprise me a little bit. But I guess it speaks volumes for how much our team has developed … and potentially how important our professional set up is back home."

The final T20I of the multi-format Ashes will get underway in Bristol at 6.30pm on Wednesday local time (3.30am Thursday AEST), with live coverage on the Nine Network and ABC Radio.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England T20 squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead England 12-2

First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

Only Test: Match Drawn

First T20: Australia won by 93 runs

Second T20: Australia won by seven wickets

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol