Aussies in control as Perry eyes a century

Ellyse Perry is on the verge of a Test century after a dominant day from the Australian batters saw them reach 3-265 at stumps on the opening day of the women’s Ashes Test in Taunton.

Perry remained unbeaten on 84 at the close of play and a second Test ton, to sit alongside the 213no she struck in her last Test innings in November 2017, beckons on Friday morning should the forecast rain stay away.

Half-centuries from new Test opener Alyssa Healy (58) and captain Meg Lanning (57) laid the foundation for the tourists, who steadied each time England found a breakthrough on a day where just three wickets fell.

Rachael Haynes (54no) will resume alongside Perry, having brought up her second Test fifty shortly before the close of play.

Adding to England’s worries is the fitness of opening bat Tammy Beaumont, who was sent for x-rays after being struck on the thumb while fielding at bat-pad.

 

After Lanning won the toss and elected to bat under overcast skies at Taunton’s County Ground, England spearhead Katherine Brunt produced a superb first ball of the Test that missed Healy’s bat and flew just inches over the top of middle stump.

Healy then gave an ominous sign of what was to come when she punched a drive to the boundary to get off the mark at the end of the second over – but it was a different tale for her opening partner Nicole Bolton, whose tough tour of England continued when she was bowled by Brunt for six, playing and missing at a delivery that held its line on off stump.

It brought Lanning to the crease with the tourists 1-25 after seven overs and after missing out twice in last week’s three-day tour game the Australian captain made a hesitant start, taking 15 deliveries before getting off the mark with a classy boundary through backward point.

Image Id: 8829AAB9EF2442B58D171A11AAC0AB9E Image Caption: Captain Lanning in action // Getty

In contrast, Healy’s outstanding limited-overs form of the last 18 months translated seamlessly to the red-ball game as she followed up on her promise to bring her typically attacking approach to her first outing as a Test opener.

She brought up her maiden Test half-century from just 61 deliveries, including 10 fours – becoming the first female Australian opener to hit a Test fifty since Alex Blackwell in 2009, albeit in a period where the team played just six Tests – but added just eight more runs before being bowled around her legs by debutante left-arm spinner Kirstie Gordon.

Gordon nearly had a second in her next over, when England captain Heather Knight put down her counterpart Lanning, dropping a sitter at short cover when the Australian No.3 was on 26, Australia likely heading to lunch feeling they’d had the better of the opening session at 2-106.

The return of Sophie Ecclestone – who had England hearts in mouths when she left the field clutching her right shoulder midway through the 16th over – after lunch provided the spark the hosts had been searching for, as she engaged in an entertaining battle with Lanning.

 

The Australian skipper survived a series of close lbw calls – with ball tracking confirming one would have been out – to bring up her half-century from 122 deliveries – her first fifty in the longest format of the game.

Just as she looked to be setting herself for an extended vigil in the middle, Ecclestone finally got the wicket she was searching for when a quicker delivery cannoned into the top of Lanning’s off-stump, ending her 134-ball innings on 57.

But once again, the Australians steadied after losing a wicket, as vice-captain Haynes found the boundary second ball.

England switched away from the left-arm spin of Gordon and Ecclestone, Knight throwing the ball to off-spinner Laura Marsh, quick Anya Shrubsole, and then back to Gordon and she searched for a way to remove Perry.

But it was to no avail as Perry brought up a half-century in the penultimate over before tea, from 117 deliveries.

As the sun finally arrived in the final hour of play, the runs dried up, but Haynes finally reached a half-century of her own from 145 deliveries.

Image Id: CEDEC0B7A75C4FC1A31690D08F36057A Image Caption: Haynes pulls to the leg-side // Getty

The new ball offered no breakthrough as England searched fruitlessly for the chink in Perry’s armour as the shadows stretched across the picturesque Somerset ground, her unbeaten partnership with Haynes stretching to 105 runs at the close.

The pitch at Taunton – nicknamed Ciderabad for its likeness to those found on the subcontinent – is expected to increasingly turn as the match wears on and day one already saw 64 of 100 overs churned out by the slower bowlers.

Left-armers Ecclestone and Gordon bowled 45 overs between them, with off-spinner Marsh contributing 19.

Earlier, Australia handed Baggy Green caps to three players as Ashleigh Gardner, Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck made their debuts, while England brought in newcomers Gordon and Amy Jones.

Image Id: F211A8003B5B43F8A898087965CDB596 Image Caption: The three Aussies on Test debut // Getty

Australia need only draw the Test to retain the Ashes, as they currently hold a 6-0 lead in the points-based series after winning all three ODIs (worth two points apiece).

As the current holders, eight points will ensure the Ashes remain in Australian hands, while England must win the Test – worth four points – and all three T20Is, worth two apiece, to reclaim the coveted trophy.

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 Test squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Kirstie Gordon, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole (vc), Lauren Winfield, Sarah Taylor

Australia lead England 6-0

First ODI: Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Third ODI:  Australia won by 194 runs

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