Novel approach pays off for 'grandma' Kimmince

Delissa Kimmince may have just unlocked the secret to bagging a five-wicket haul in the Ashes; a hot bath and a good book.

For the self-confessed early bird – who has yet to see it get dark since arriving in England, given the lengthy days and her own preference for an early bedtime – playing two day-nighters to kick off the seven-game, multi-format Ashes series has been less than ideal.

But that didn’t stop the allrounder, playing just the 14th one-day international of what’s been a stop-start 11-year international career, from collecting a career-best 5-26 on Thursday as Australia took a 4-0 lead in the points-based women’s Ashes.

"It probably hasn’t sunk in yet what I did today, but I’m sure when I look back it’ll be a memory that I won’t forget," Kimmince said following Australia’s four-wicket win.

"I still haven’t seen the night-time, but perhaps tonight I might see a little bit of darkness.

"I’m a grandma. I’m an early sleeper. Early to bed, early to rise."

Waking up early means there’s been extra time for Kimmince to kill before the 2pm start times this week, hours where the mind can wander and potentially over-analyse the task ahead.

So to distract herself on Thursday morning, Kimmince took a novel approach – literally.

"I find it quite draining waiting for the game, so I had a bath and read my book,” she said with a smile.

"It just relaxes me and if I can take the mind off the game then I don’t play the game before I get here."

Having picked up the key wicket of Natalie Sciver in the 24th over of England’s innings, Kimmince returned at the death to devastating effect, picking up four more wickets in the space of just nine deliveries.

"I think that at the back end of the innings, the slower balls seemed to be working much better than pace on the ball,” she said.

“(They were) a lot harder to hit, and I knew that I had to keep my plan simple.

"I have a few (slower balls) that I like to mix up between. I just know that they probably know my slower balls are coming, that’s what I do in a lot of the T20 games.

"So I try and keep them guessing and at the same time try and keep it simple, which can be difficult."

The first two matches of the series have been particularly sweet for Kimmince, who was meant to be part of the 2015 Ashes tour only to be ruled out days before her scheduled departure from Australia due to a back injury.

Viewed for so long as a T20 specialist, Kimmince made her international debut in 2008 and played 10 one-dayers across the next 12 months, before walking away from cricket all together.

Her comeback saw her play a one-off ODI in August 2014, alongside seven T20Is, before again dropping out of international reckoning until she was recalled for the 20-over matches of the 2017 Ashes in Australia.

Her long-awaited ODI return came in February this year when she replaced an injured Nicola Carey, and Kimmince has managed to hold her spot for the start of this Ashes series.

"No, to be honest," Kimmince said when asked if she’d thought she’d be in the starting XI for the series opener.

"I can count how many ODIs I’ve played. But to be in the starting team and out there with the girls is an awesome achievement. And for me to go out there and take five wickets today and do my job for the team, I can’t ask for any more than that."

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia lead England 4-0

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

England ODI squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt 

July 2: Australia won by two wickets

July 4: Australia won by four wickets

July 7:  Third ODI, St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins