All-conquering Australia’s Women’s Ashes collapse opens door for England

England's Sophie Ecclestone hits out during the home victory that levelled the Women’s Ashes series with two ODIs remaining. Photograph: David Davies/PA

After Australia won the lone Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in June, Alyssa Healy would have been keen to celebrate. She had spent her rare Test appearances across years playing out draws on surfaces that offered drudgery between thunderstorms: North Sydney in 2017, Taunton in 2019, hosting India on the Gold Coast in 2021, even the Canberra Ashes Test of 2022 where a close finish relied on Australia manufacturing a target.

Now she was unexpectedly captain, filling in for the absent Meg Lanning, and celebrating a bona fide Test win in a match that was given the full five days. Wicketkeepers are generally the life of the party, and Healy is the most outgoing of a publicly reserved bunch of teammates. Winning before lunch, they must have enjoyed their afternoon.