Rain hampers Ashes preparations

Rain once again hampered Australia’s Women’s Ashes preparation in Brisbane with their tour match against the Cricket Australia XI abandoned after just 31 overs.

Torrential rain washed out any hope of yesterday’s practice match against the Queensland Fire at Allan Border Field – venue of the first Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes ODI on Sunday – before the wet weather returned on Tuesday to stop short proceedings at Marist College Ashgrove.

Australia now have one more match to prepare for the series opener when they face the Queensland Fire on Friday back at Marist College, the school of legendary opening batter Matthew Hayden.

While the match was called off 1pm local time, 31 priceless overs were sent down, predominantly by the Southern Stars seam attack.

South Australia swing bowler Megan Schutt opened the bowling and was at her miserly best, conceding just nine runs from her opening spell of five overs that included two maidens.

Sharing the new ball with Schutt was left-arm teenager Lauren Cheatle, who claimed a wicket in her first over when skipper Rachael Haynes held on to a good catch at short cover to remove Sophie Molineux for a two-ball duck.

Playing in just her second match since March, Cheatle finished with 1-21 from five overs, her figures slightly swollen due to six wides called against her.

Haynes made a double change at the 10-over mark, with off-spinner Ash Gardner and allrounder Ellyse Perry called into the attack.

With a slippery ball and two batters well set in the form of Katie Mack and Heather Graham, Gardner couldn’t nail her lengths and was taken to, conceding 0-20 from three overs.

Mack and Graham added 77 for the second wicket until Perry delivered a breakthrough in her sixth and final over as Mack chopped on for 30.

Graham made the most of a reprieve on 10 when she was dropped by Nicole Bolton close to the wicket to carry on and hit six boundaries and finish unbeaten on 56.

The final stages of the truncated innings featured spin from both ends as Australia’s cluster of spinners went to work.

Amanda-Jade Wellington replaced Gardner and daringly flighted the ball despite the greasy conditions to record figures of 0-22 from five overs, while fellow leg-spinner Kristen Beams bowled just the two overs in taking 0-6.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Jess Jonassen was the pick of the slow bowlers, combining with Wellington to remove CA XI second-drop Nicola Carey for nine.

Jonassen, a Brisbane local, took 1-9 from three overs before the rain ended the hit out.

"I was pretty pleased with how the ball was coming out today especially with it being a little bit wet as well," Jonassen said after play.

"I didn’t really have too many issues. I was able to settle into a short spell so that was nice.

"It was disappointing not to get a full game in today and with the weather over the last few days we’ve been cooped up indoors.

"But in saying that it was good for our pace bowlers to get a run around out there and the bowlers got a few overs under their belt.

"Hopefully later on in the week the batters can get their opportunity. We ’ve got an intra-squad game on Friday – they’ll be raring to go."

England have also been impacted by the inclement weather, with their match against the CA XI washed out on Monday after just 18.1 overs.

The tourists now play Queensland on Wednesday at Marist College before Australia face the same opponents two days later. 

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), 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 Allan Border Field, October 22

Brisbane Charity Partner: Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust

Second ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 26

Third ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 29

Coffs Junior Cricket Association Partners: Coffs Harbour District JCA, Nambucca Bellingen JCA, and Clarence River JCA

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

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