Wounded England hopeful over injured duo

Already 4-0 down in the series, England now face a nervous wait for fitness updates on a pair of star players ahead of the third women’s Ashes ODI at Canterbury.

Star wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Taylor missed Thursday’s second match in Leicester with a niggling ankle injury, while pace spearhead Katherine Brunt rolled her ankle during her jubilant celebration after taking the wicket of Australia captain Meg Lanning.

In good news for England, Brunt returned to the field later in the innings at Grace Road and bowled a further three overs in what was ultimately a four-wicket win for Australia, who extended their lead in the point-based Ashes series to 4-0.

"She just turned her ankle, Yorkies (players from Yorkshire) get overexcited when they take a wicket, but I think she’s okay," England captain Heather Knight said after Australia chased England’s 217 with 28 balls remaining.

"She came back on and she’s a tough nut, so we’ll have to assess her but hopefully she’ll pull up all right."

In Taylor’s absence, Knight was pushed up the order to No.3, where she battled to rotate the strike before being dismissed for a 47-ball 17.

Opener Tammy Beaumont, who led the way for England with a superb century, was hopeful Taylor would be available for the remainder of the series.

"It’s just a little niggle there, it was a case of risk it today and it’ll be worse for the rest of the series," Beaumont said.

"I’m sure the physio and doctor will have a good look at it going into the rest of the series."

While Australia have won two from two ODIs with one 50-over match remaining, the nature of the multi-format, points-based Ashes series - which comprises three ODIs, one Test and three T20Is – means England can ill afford another defeat on Sunday.

Australia hold a 4-0 lead, with two points available for each limited-overs win and four points on offer for the one-off Test.

"A change of venue will be a nice change for us, we’ll have to debrief quite quickly again," Knight said.

"We’ll try to park this and turn it around. We’ve done it before, we did it in Australia for the Ashes out there, so we’re going to have to turn it around very quickly.

"It’s a massive game for us down in Canterbury."

One major positive for England on Thursday was the form of Beaumont, the pint-sized right-hander who delivered an almighty innings, scoring 114 of England’s 217 runs and posting her first Ashes century.

It was a breakthrough moment for the 28-year-old, whose previous five ODI tons have come against lower-ranked Pakistan and South Africa.

"In my opinion, it's the best innings she has played for England, or at least her most important innings," former England captain Charlotte Edwards said on Sky Sports.

"It's a big one in terms of her career. She hadn't scored a century before against Australia (so) to get that monkey off your back and (has) proven to the Australians, 'I'm a world-class player'.

"To put this type of performance in, with her team under pressure coming into this game, will give her a huge amount of confidence.

“It was an exceptional knock."

The third Ashes ODI will get underway in Canterbury at 11am local time on Sunday (8pm AEST) with live coverage in Australia on 9GEM and ABC Radio

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