More runs predicted after low-scoring opener

The women’s Ashes may have kicked off with a low-scoring thriller in Leicester, but leg-spinner Georgia Wareham is tipping the runs to flow in the second ODI at the same venue tonight (AEST).

England were bowled out for just 177 at Grace Road on Tuesday before Australia lost eight wickets themselves in pursuit of their target.

But both sides believe there are plenty of runs to be scored if batters are disciplined enough to play straight, and Australia opener Alyssa Healy proved as much in her match-winning innings of 66 on Tuesday.

"We thought it was a really good wicket (to bat on), but both teams have really good bowling units, too," Wareham said.

"It was a strange game to start a series but I’m sure the batters will step it up (on Thursday) and I think we’ll be in for some higher totals."

Wareham said she was looking forward to enjoying a full night’s rest ahead of the second of three ODIs, after the tense finish to Tuesday’s opener left her charged with adrenaline well after the winning runs had been scored.

Called upon to bat for only the second time in her fledging international career, No.10 Wareham joined No.9 Delissa Kimmince in the middle with Australia still needing 11 runs to win, albeit from 10.1 overs.

She survived seven balls without scoring as Kimmince hit two singles and one boundary, before five wides from Katherine Brunt ended the match.

"I was pretty nervous going in with only a few runs to get," she said. "DK helped me calm my nerves, both our hearts were racing when we were out there, but it was good to get the job done.

"We spoke about the conditions, the wicket, how we needed to play it really, really straight and the fact we had heaps of overs under our sleeve. We kept meeting and telling each other that.

"I was pretty happy I didn’t go out, but I was more happy we got the job done in the end."

Leg-spinner Wareham, whose 10 overs on Tuesday went for just 37 runs, knows there’s no room to relax against England’s dangerous batting line-up, which includes in-form openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, the stylish Sarah Taylor and captain Heather Knight.

"I don’t think you can ever get complacent with where you are,” she said. “My goal as a leg-spinner coming into this team is to be really aggressive, really attacking and take as many wickets as I can for the team.”

A small contingent of Australians took part in an optional training session on Wednesday before the entire 14-player group debriefed Tuesday’s see-sawing affair that saw England claw their way back into the match after being on the ropes early at 4-19.

But the fast-paced nature of the multi-format series means there’s little time for the Australians to dwell on the series opener, with just one day between the two matches.

"We’ll try and not just mimic the bowling performance, we’ll tweak a few things here and there," Wareham said.

"Hopefully as a batting unit they will come together. It was a really weird game, it ebbed and flowed the whole time (and) we were really lucky to scrape through with a win.

"But we have confidence in what we did as a bowling unit and we’ve got such a good batting line-up, it’ll put us in really good stead.

"We’re used to playing games back-to-back and we’re already focused for the next game."

After claiming the first two points of the multi-format series, Australia will look to extend their lead to 4-0 when the second game gets underway at 2pm local time (11pm AEST) tonight with coverage live and free on the Nine Network and ABC Radio.

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia lead England 2-0

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: Second ODI, Grace Road, Leicester

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