Match report and analysis
A Test century too for Anabel Sutherland, her first in international cricket:“I am not sure it’s sunk in yet! It was a lot of fun there and it was nice to put on some runs with Kim Garth and Alana King at the end. They really did their jobs.
“I think we are on top at 250 ahead. Nat and Tammy took some momentum England’s way but there is some variable bounce in the pitch and we saw some chances to our spinners and looking forward to getting stuck in tomorrow.”
Do join us tomorrow to see which way this tightly-strung game unwinds. The initiative swung from Australia at lunchtime – to England at the close, with parts big and slightly less-big played by Sophie Ecclestone (best Test figures of 5-129), Sutherland, Beaumont, Knight and a joyful cameo from Nat Sciver-Brunt toward the close. Thanks for your messages, good night!
More on those multi-format centurions – Beaumont has joined Dawid Malan, Heather Knight and Jos Buttler in the exclusive club. Very nicely done, and probably all the sweeter after being dropped for the Commonwealth Games last year.
Heather Knight (in a bucket hat):”If you bowl straight its actually quite hard to score. We talked about our strengths - being really decisive to attack the balls we want.
“It was in the balance last night, the wicket is pretty dead for the bowlers. That Sophie was able to hold one end was outstanding, keep the bowlers banging it into off stump.
“Lauren Filer, a risky call but I think she’s bowled with brilliant control and every time she came into bowl the crowd got behind her and it felt like something was going to happen. About the only bowler where you felt the nicks were going to carry.
I think we’ve got to go again tomorrow. Today we were outstanding with the bat, go to try and boss that middle period tomorrow, try and build that platform, the middle order will be quite aggressive and try and score quickly but we’ll have to pay the situation.”
Stumps: England 218-2 trail by 255
52nd over: England 218-2 (Beaumont 100, Sciver-Brunt 41) Milestone in the bag, England play Jonassen’s final over carefully back, and that’s stumps! A positive, gusty batting performance by England, wrestling back the initiative from Australia after spending a day and a half chasing the leather – spearheaded by Tammy Beaumont.
A hundred for Tammy Beaumont!
52nd over: England 213-2 (Beaumont 100, Sciver-Brunt 40) The crowd start to buzz as Beaumont pulls into the deep, but the ball is stopped on the rope. They don’t have to wait long though, as she tickles another into deep square and the pair sprint the second run. Beaumont pulls off her helmet and raises her bat, gets a huge hug from the much taller NSB, and smiles a happy smile. On the balcony her England teammates stand and applause, their arms above their heads. Beaumont’s first Test hundred and she also becomes only the second England woman to make hundreds in each format.
Updated
51st over: England 208-2 (Beaumont 96, Sciver-Brunt 35) Jonassen gets the nod, and restricts England to a couple.
50th over: England 202-2 (Beaumont 95, Sciver-Brunt 30) The 50 partnership off 56 balls, as NSB tucks a napkin under her chin and tucks into Alanna King with two bold boundaries. An over also featuring a misfield from Ellyse Perry.
49th over: England 193-2 (Beaumont 92, Sciver-Brunt 24) A slog-sweep – make that two – as NSB kneels and slams Ash Gardner over the rope at various angles. And then four more as the ball skips merrily through the covers. England fizzing towards the close.
48th over: England 181-2 (Beaumont 92, Sciver-Brunt 12) Spin from both ends as King comes back. Immediately NSB is made to grasp and is beaten.
Ah, a correction to my earlier mention of England’s second-wicket record Ashes stand. It turns out it belonged (and still belongs) to Edith Bakewell and Rachael Heyhoe-Flint.
@bbctms @onebillionrs England women's highest 2nd wicket stand in Tests v Australia is still (for the moment) Heyhoe Flint & Bakewell's 127 at Adelaide in 1968, but it won't come up on statsguru searches because ESPNcricinfo's scorecard doesn't have the fall of wicket info.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 23, 2023
47th over: England 178-2 (Beaumont 92, Sciver-Brunt 9) A chance! Beaumont pushes her leg forward and wafts, the edge passes the keeper and the diving Jonassen at slip, who lies on the grass with an oh shucks face.
46th over: England 173-2 (Beaumont 88, Sciver-Brunt 8) Garth sends down a short one and Beaumont tucks in. Twelve more runs for her first Test century. NSB drives handsomely, but more snappy Australian fielding stops it breaking the circle.
45th over: England 167-2 (Beaumont 83, Sciver-Brunt 7) I take that back, turns out Beaumont fancies her hundred before stumps. Leans into Gardner, and sends the ball spinning through point for four. She nods, fiddles with her batting gloevs, her helmet strap, her hair (newly dyed blond?).
Updated
44th over: England 160-2 (Beaumont 76, Sciver-Brunt 7) Garth again, bustles in, busy. Just a single as the players start to look towards the close.
43rd over: England 159-2 (Beaumont 75, Sciver-Brunt 7) Spread your chunk of bread with honey – NSB off the mark with a pitch-perfect cover-drive for four off Gardner.
Updated
41st over: England 151-2 (Beaumont 74, Sciver-Brunt 0) Nat SB is watchful and immaculately defensive. A super innings by Knight, who had reverse-swept Gardner for four the ball before losing her wicket.
WICKET! Knight c Healy b Gardner 57 (England 151-2)
Heavy legs, heavy boots, bounce, a push, an edge.
Updated
40th over: England 147-1 (Beaumont 74, Knight 53) Beaumont and Knight have now beaten England’s second wicket Test partnership record against Australia – held by Beaumont and Knight.
39th over: England 144-1 (Beaumont 74, Knight 50) Beaumont takes on Gardner, slapping her up and over for four. England trotting along at quite the pace here.
Updated
Fifty for Heather Knight!
38th over: England 128-1 (Beaumont 68, Knight 50) Knight stands, wibbling her bat high in her hands, and with a shimmy-cut though the slips passes fifty. She raises her bat in typically unshowy fashion as the dog next to me on the sofa turns on her back and sticks her legs in the air in syncronised celebration.
Updated
37th over: England 128-1 (Beaumont 67, Knight 46) Gardner finds a bit of fizz – Knight is beaten by one with a bit of air, then gets an outside edge which flies just short of slip. But she picks up four with a reverse-sweep. Tick-tock, on England go.
Updated
36th over: England 128-1 (Beaumont 66, Knight 42) This is quite easy for England at the moment. Garth replaces King (who could have had Beaumont in her pocket if Australia had reviewed). Four runs from it.
Updated
35th over: England 124-1 (Beaumont 66, Knight 38) Drinks are taken and Ash Gardner, refreshed, sends down a maiden with her first over.
Updated
34th over: England 124-1 (Beaumont 66, Knight 38) Knight wrinkles her nose delicately and sweeps King, athletically fielded on the rope by a diving Garth.
33rd over: England 122-1 (Beaumont 66, Knight 36) To rub salt into the wound, the reprieved Beaumont slaps Sutherland for our.
32nd over: England 118-1 (Beaumont 62, Knight 36) Ooooh dear, Australia don’t review a possible catch at short leg and the replay shows the ball travelling from Beaumont’s inside edge to boot into Litchfield’s paws. Beaumont survives, King is not best pleased.
31st over: England 116-1 (Beaumont 60, Knight 36) Wicket-taker Sutherland returns and immediately lifts one past Beaumont’s nostrils. Some snap, which Australia need.
30th over: England 116-1 (Beaumont 60, Knight 36) The floodlights come on – it must be gloomier than it looks on the telly. Knight drives, and the ball speeds through Beth Mooney’s diving hands and to the rope. Mooney looks briefly flustered.
29th over: England 112-1 (Beaumont 60, Knight 32) In the crowd, a chap in a checked shirt enjoys a slurp of his frothy pint as he carries an order in front of the sightscreen, momentarily delaying play. Perry dangles the ball of wool in front of the kittens ….
28th over: England 109-1 (Beaumont 60, Knight 29) King again, sleeves just so. Beaumont squirrels three from a loose ball, then a strangled appeal for an lbw, and then King picks up and semi-attempts to throw down the stumps. Keeping things sparky.
27th over: England 105-1 (Beaumont 57, Knight 28) A Perry maiden.
Fifty for Tammy Beaumont!
26th over: England 105-1 (Beaumont 57, Knight 28) A pull to the rope brings Beaumont her third Test fifty, she modestly raises her bat to her applauding teammates on the Trent Bridge balcony. Looks in lovely touch. And another four, a legside ball from King helped on its way.
Updated
25th over: England 97-1 (Beaumont 49, Knight 28) In tasting distance of her fifty, Beaumont misses out on two Perry full tosses, neither reaching the rope. An optimistic lbw appeal against Knight and a beauty to finish the over which tempts Knight into a shot. Oh not quite the end of the over as Perry oversteps. Incidentally, thank you BBC, this is the first time Australia have played with a Duke’s ball.
24th over: England 93-1 (Beaumont 49, Knight 27) Ah! Alana King time, with her clutch of leggies and her film star sunnies. Long sleeves, eager action. Beaumont is watchful. A maiden.
23rd over: England 93-1 (Beaumont 49, Knight 27) A beautifully timed dinky squeeze through the covers for four from Knight off Perry, as the runs continue to flow. Too easy for England at the moment.
Updated
22nd over: England 87-1 (Beaumont 49, Knight 21) A very expensive over from Brown – time for a change? Twelve from it including a boundary to each player. The fifty partnership has jogged up in good time – 73 balls.
Updated
21st over: England 75-1 (Beaumont 45, Knight 14) A smashing athletic bound and dive on the rope by Brown cuts off a Beaumont boundary. I may live to regret these words but Perry doesn’t look that threatening so far.
Asks Geoff Wignall. “Boa tarde Tanya,
“This might have the makings of a very fine game indeed, which would make all the more a pity that we gave just the one 5 day match.
“But there’s one thing that puzzles me about women’s cricket.
“I get that it’s to be enjoyed and appreciated in its own right as a highly skilled game, without reference to the men’s version. And that compared to the men’s game, it doesn’t and won’t have the same bowling speeds.
“What I struggle to understand is why, apart from a lack of familiarity with higher pace, 75 mph seems quick to a woman batter when it’s military medium to the men.
“Surely there’s no difference of eyesight or reflexes to explain it; and if just the lack of being accustomed, then why not turn up the bowling machine to 80+mph in the nets and be untroubled out in the middle?
“What am I missing?”
I consulted my oracle (Raf) before answering to check I hadn’t missed anything. What would the point be of batting against bowling machines in the nets when you don’t face speeds that quick in the middle? The players would be through their shots before the ball had arrived.
Evening session
20th over: England 71-1 (Beaumont 41, Knight 14) Knight briskly restarts things with a pull to backward square leg for a couple, A free run as Brown oversteps,
Tea - England trail by 405 runs
19th over: England 68-1 (Beaumont 41, Knight 12) Our first glance of Ellyse Perry with the ball, whose fifth ball flies kindly legside in a hit-me plea and Beaumont swivels to turn it behind her heels for four. A big shout for caught behind off the last – Australia review but ball hasn’t touched bat. The Aussies lose their review and the two teams go in for tea. I must get a quick cuppa – back shortly.
18th over: England 64-1 (Beaumont 37, Knight 12) Darcie Brown gets a new end to race in from, brown pony tail trailing behind. Just a single from it as England clockwatch. Golfing buddies Jon Lewis and Sophie Ecclestone watch through an open window.
17th over: England 63-1 (Beaumont 36, Knight 12) Alyssa Healy grins behind the stumps, sun cream on her nose. England, says Jonathan Agnew, chose the light roller between innings – perhaps worried about the pitch breaking up. And that’s another maiden with the tea-urn about to be switched on.
“Loving the game,” writes Peter Salmon, “Sutherland batted so well. Don’t want to hijack anything with the men’s Ashes, but it seems remiss not to mention Ollie Robinson’s article in Wisden today, which has lit up Twitter. As a number of people have been pointing out it could easily be a satirical piece on The Onion website. The paragraph “Of course it sounds weird because they won it, but I think if they’re honest, Australia will look at themselves and realise they need to change their approach to keep up with how we’re going to play” is just genius.
“I assume Ollie thinks England is well ahead in this match too. Once again Australia have fallen into the trap of winning.”
I don’t think Heather Knight would tick this sort of thing off, do you?
Updated
16th over: England 63-1 (Beaumont 36, Knight 12) Perhaps this is an over too far for Sutherland. A couple of full tosses which Beaumont takes on, successfully, to the appreciation of the crowd in shorts and sunhats.
15th over: England 55-1 (Beaumont 28, Knight 12) Garth, blond hair in a bun, rushes in, the Trent Bridge pavilion behind her. Knight is watchful, defending what she must, ignoring what she can. A maiden.
14th over: England 56-1 (Beaumont 28, Knight 12) Runs off the miserly century maker Sutherland, as she serves up a full toss which Beaumont takes full advantage of, pulling gleefully. A couple more and England pass fifty, trailing by 418.
13th over: England 49-1 (Beaumont 22, Knight 12) Signal has returned, missed a couple of Knight boundaries. Jon Lewis said that Knight was making a real effort to be more aggressive in her play and she’s being true to that goal here.
12th over: England 41-1 (Beaumont 22, Knight 4) And another maiden from Sutherland. A slight issue with my television which has suddenly said it has no signal - bear with me for a minute while I press a few buttons.
Updated
11th over: England 41-1 (Beaumont 22, Knight 4) Knight carefully plays back five balls of the Garth over but licks her lips at the sixth and drives a tasty donut through the covers for four.
Updated
10th over: England 36-1 (Beaumont 21, Knight 0) Just the century and the wicket maiden for Sutherland so far today…
Updated
WICKET! Lamb c Litchfield b Sutherland 10 (England 36-1)
Lamb can’t resist a little nibble and is snaffled at second slip
Updated
9th over: England 36-0 (Beaumont 21, Lamb 10) Beaumont again plonks her size four down the pitch and leans into an over-pitched ball – driven through the covers to the rope. The next is edged through the slips for four, then a cap-gun pull for four more. Brown proving expensive here.
Updated
8th over: England 24-0 (Beaumont 10, Lamb 9) Most of Garth’s over can be safely ignored, what can’t be is defended away. One keeps pitifully low.
7th over: England 24-0 (Beaumont 10, Lamb 9) Emma Lamb (whose brother Danny today announced a move from Lancashire to Sussex) ducks a bouncer which she thinks about swinging at – it only just passes over her head. Brown’s next ball is driven through the covers with a ladle of panache.
6th over: England 19-0 (Beaumont 5, Lamb 9) At last! Beaumont’s eyes widen at a Garth wide pie and she stretches to bang the ball to the rope. The next ball, she goes to cut, and is beaten.
5th over: England 15-0 (Beaumont 5, Lamb 5) Beaumont squints into the sun under the peak of her helmet. And is squared up by a Brown inswinger which she edges to second slip where Litchfield can’t hold on.
4th over: England 13-0 (Beaumont 4, Lamb 4) Just a single from Garth’s over as an England posse eat ice-cream on the shaded balcony. Weary legs rested.
3rd over: England 12-0 (Beaumont 3, Lamb 4) Thanks Megan for staying up into the small hours and still producing perfect prose! Pleased to have taken over just in time for England’s great counter-attack – 250-0 at stumps. Ish. Four leg byes past the keeper hurry things along. Six from Brown’s over.
2nd over: England 6-0 (Beaumont 3, Lamb 2) Garth comes on to bowl her first Test over and Lamb easily guides it away to deep backward square leg for two. Garth tightens up her line and the next two balls are both dots. The next one is very nervy though and it’s called wide by the umpire. Again Garth readjusts and the next ball is very good in both line and length. She finishes the over with another two dots and I am going to leave you in the very capable hands of the fabulous Tanya Aldred!
Updated
1st over: England 3-0 (Beaumont 2, Lamb 1) Brown comes right off batting and into opening the bowling. The first ball is…interesting – it’s very loose and she’ll need to tighten up. The next ball is better, but Lamb manages to get hold of it and get off the mark with a single. Beaumont gets off the mark the next ball with a two, they are both showing intent early. Brown is taking a little bit of time to find her line and length, but she finally gets there on the last ball of the over and there’s a little appeal, but no interest from the umpire.
Another cool stat here for Australia – a very impressive total indeed!
473 - Australia's highest innings total this millennium. Only 6-569 (Guildford, 1998) and 525 (Ahmedabad, 1983-84) ahead. #bronzemedal
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) June 23, 2023
Australia 473
A very good innings for Australia, they will be very happy with that. They will have spoken during the lunch break about their plans for bowling and they’ll be ready to execute them. There’s no doubt there are runs in the pitch, so it will take very good bowling to take the 20 wickets Australia need to win the game and keep England from smashing out their own huge score. It’s getting very exciting now – stay with us as we see what England can do with the bat.
WICKET! Brown c&b Ecclestone 5 (Australia 473)
Finally England finish Australia off, Brown caught mistiming one straight back to the bowler and Ecclestone has five wickets.
Updated
124th over: Australia 472-9 (Sutherland 136, Brown 5) Filer comes back on to bowl – there’s been a lot of talk about how few bowlers England have used. Don’t expect that when Australia come out to bowl – they’re almost a team full of all-rounders, they’ll all come in to take the bowling load on. Brown manages a four to keep the run rate ticking along at her end – despite the best efforts of Dunkley on the boundary. Australia are inching up towards 500 now. Will they get there?
123rd over: Australia 468-9 (Sutherland 136, Brown 1) Ecclestone powers on, like the warrior she is. Sutherland drops her bat during a run and there’s an overthrow – it’s all getting a bit messy out there. Sutherland settles things down with a huge six over the longest boundary to finish the over.
122nd over: Australia 460-9 (Sutherland 128, Brown 1) Another over for Cross and she bangs one in short to Brown as a little welcome to the middle. She sneaks a single and then Sutherland has a wild swing at one – signalling her intention to go hard now they’re down to the last wicket. Her next one is in the air, but it falls safely in front of deep backward square.
121st over: Australia 457-9 (Sutherland 121, Brown 0) Sutherland uses her feet beautifully and plays a lovely lofted drive down the ground for four. She follows it up with a nice straight drive to long off for a single – she looks completely unflappable today. Garth however has to go and Darcie Brown comes to the crease. She defends the first ball straight back to Ecclestone and lets the second go, surviving the over.
WICKET! Garth lbw Ecclestone 22 (Australia 457-9)
Finally England get the breakthrough they’d been desperately hoping for. Garth reviews the LBW because why not? But it’s pretty clearly out and ball tracking confirms it.
Updated
120th over: Australia 452-8 (Sutherland 121, Garth 22) Sutherland brings up the 450 on the first ball of the Cross over, steering the ball down to third for two. Cross bowls a great short ball, it surprises Sutherland, but she gets under it and pulls it away for a single. Garth continues with her patient play, not entertaining the wider balls that Cross is trying to tempt her into throwing her bat at.
119th over: Australia 449-8 (Sutherland 118, Garth 22) Ecclestone continues – not much of a break for her in this game. Garth pulls out the scoop and sends it past deep fine leg for four. All those English fans who were nervous about Australia reaching 450 have almost had their nightmare realised.
118th over: Australia 444-8 (Sutherland 117, Garth 18) Another over for Cross. Finally Australia are ready to score a run and Sutherland plays a nice straight drive for a single. Garth gets in on the action when Cross serves up a short and wide ball – Garth cuts it sweetly for four.
117th over: Australia 439-8 (Sutherland 116, Garth 14) Ecclestone is back for her 43rd over of the Test. Dunkley and Beaumont are under the lids again and they have a little appeal on the fourth ball of the over, but it’s more wishful thinking than anything. It’s a second consecutive maiden for England, but what they really want is a wicket.
116th over: Australia 439-8 (Sutherland 116, Garth 14) The declaration speculation came to nothing in the end, they continue to bat. The good news about that is that it gives us more time for speculating about the declaration. Cross bowls the first over after lunch and starts with four dots as Sutherland gets her eye back in. She then throws in a bouncer and Sutherland comfortably ducks under it, but it’s another dot, which Cross will be pleased with. Sutherland plays a nice shot on the last, but it’s fielded at midwicket and the first over after lunch is a maiden.
Bharat is always on the ball – he’s picked up another nice moment here.
What a moment for Annabel Sutherland, walking off the field with two of her heroes, Ellyse Perry & Alyssa Healy on their feet & giving her an ovation on the balcony #WAshes pic.twitter.com/lbNJnbbVDV
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) June 23, 2023
If you’re keen to know a bit more about the Women’s Ashes – the format is quite different to the men’s – our team has put together this nice little explainer video that will entertain and inform you for a few minutes during this lunch break.
This is a pretty cool piece of history – it’s 50 years today since the first Cricket World Cup match (women’s or men’s) was played.
Newsreel footage of the deciding match of the 1973 World Cup, in which England beat Australia at Edgbaston, with Enid Bakewell scoring a century and taking two wickets.#bbccricket #Ashes #WomensAshes pic.twitter.com/keesZoAEw5 https://t.co/bZOwcMgZHb
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) June 23, 2023
It’s been a very Australia-heavy highlights reel so far, so if you’re more England-inclined, you might enjoy re-living Bell’s wicket of King from earlier today.
Belly with the breakthrough! 🤩
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 23, 2023
Things we love to see. #EnglandCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/PGj8GKieTa
Former Australia captain Alex Blackwell was also impressed with Sutherland’s effort and captured this little clip of the moment.
Test ton for Sutherland! What a stunning innings. And plenty left in the tank! Sutherland could bat England out of the game here #WAshes pic.twitter.com/1tMqqo4RXC
— Alex Blackwell (@AlexBlackwell2) June 23, 2023
Well that was a fascinating start to the day – I think in Australia we’ve always been really aware of how strong a batter Sutherland is, but her international opportunities have been fairly limited due to the absolute wealth of batting talent. She looks to be relishing the chance to show her batting prowess to the world.
Cricket Australia have managed to dig up this very cute picture of her with Meg Lanning to mark the occasion.
From little things, big things grow ❤️@VicStateCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/VJqO1WF2cO
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) June 23, 2023
115th over: Australia 439-8 (Sutherland 116, Garth 14) Ooh, we’re getting into declaration speculation territory now – everyone’s favourite time of a Test match. There’s some chat that it might happen over lunch if Australia are still batting by the break. If they do go for an aggressive declaration, do we call that Shezball? Something to think about. It’s a maiden from Ecclestone and that’s lunch!
114th over: Australia 439-8 (Sutherland 116, Garth 14) Filer bowls her 21st over of the match and she wants to be the one to take this next wicket. She’s succeeding in making Garth look uncomfortable, but she’s not quite finding that next level to force her into a mistake. There’s an appeal for LBW in the middle of the over with a fuller ball, but it’s a very half-hearted appeal. Sutherland swings wildly at one and it looks like it could be the wicket England were looking for, but it falls safely – she can do no wrong today.
113th over: Australia 434-8 (Sutherland 112, Garth 14) There are plenty of English folks with concerns over the ability of the Australians to bat for a long time. Stuie is one of them that is quite keen for England to make a breakthrough.
@meganmaurice g’day megan
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) June 23, 2023
I worry for England here, Australia could just bat & bat
Could get 450-500 here.
Ecclestone is bowling well, but she needs something special to break this partnership and she hasn’t quite figured out what that is yet.
112th over: Australia 428-8 (Sutherland 110, Garth 10) Sutherland now has the highest Test score by a woman batting at number eight and the fastest women’s Test hundred for Australia – a nice couple of records to pick up! Both Garth and Sutherland appear to be darting for more quick singles now, looking like they want to pile on as many runs as possible before this innings comes to a close. Filer isn’t managing to have the same impact that she had yesterday and England desperately want to take these last two wickets.
111th over: Australia 424-8 (Sutherland 108, Garth 9) Garth looks like she might have picked up a couple more runs, but the umpire signals byes. The very next ball she manages to pick up her first boundary, sweeping past deep backward square leg for four. There’s a bit of relief on her face as she finally gets off that two she had been sitting on for quite a while. The floodgates start to open a bit and she finds some more freedom in her batting.
110th over: Australia 415-8 (Sutherland 108, Garth 2) Filer comes back into the attack, but Sutherland isn’t troubled by her, bringing up her century and following it up with another boundary two balls later and then a third, with a thick outside edge. She’s got more of a sense of urgency now, she seems to be deliberately lifting the run rate.
100! Annabel Sutherland
Sutherland wastes no time, flicking the first ball of the over past deep mid wicket for four and she gets her first Test century.
Updated
109th over: Australia 403-8 (Sutherland 96, Garth 2) We get a third review for today for a ‘ball hitting the bowler’s hand and then the stumps’ run out. Again it’s safe, but it’s Sutherland who is batting when this happens every time. I guess she really loves hitting the ball straight! Sutherland follows up with a very nice drive past deep extra cover for four and she’s into the 90s and Australia notch up the 400. She nearly does it again, but it’s saved – eventually – by Bell on the boundary who loses track of it for a minute and it’s kept to three runs.
108th over: Australia 396-8 (Sutherland 89, Garth 2) Cross continues with her second spell of the day and she bangs one in short to Sutherland, but she isn’t too troubled by it – the shot is mistimed, but it was never going to put her in any danger. Garth gets back on strike and resumes her defensive position against the good length balls of Cross.
107th over: Australia 395-8 (Sutherland 88, Garth 2) Beaumont and Dunkley are both under the lid around the bat now, looking to unsettle Garth in particular. I would say it’s working fairly well in that she doesn’t look like she’s having a great time, but it doesn’t get them the wicket they desperately want.
106th over: Australia 394-8 (Sutherland 87, Garth 2) Cross comes back into the attack, but nothing can upset Sutherland’s rhythm at the moment. She works one to mid wicket for a single and brings Garth back on strike. Cross is quite interested in an LBW appeal on Garth, but the umpire isn’t and neither is Heather Knight after that last wasted review. Cross is getting a little bit of swing away that is troubling Garth a little, but she’s holding strong for now.
105th over: Australia 393-8 (Sutherland 86, Garth 2) Sutherland is really flying now, starting the over with a four past fine leg. She gives the strike back to Garth and Ecclestone is keen to bowl a few more balls to the less experienced batter. Garth doesn’t look particularly comfortable, but she sees out the over with solid defence.
104th over: Australia 388-8 (Sutherland 81, Garth 2) Bell doesn’t seem to be feeling the pressure too much either, lots of smiles out there, she seems relaxed and confident with her bowling. Sutherland gets another lovely cut shot away, but Wyatt fields it nicely on the boundary to keep her to two runs. Sutherland has sped up since she got her half century – her first 50 runs came off 100 balls and then she got the next 30 runs off 30 balls. She gets a little edge that flies past Jones’s gloves – it could have been dangerous for her if Jones had gone for it.
Updated
103rd over: Australia 385-8 (Sutherland 78, Garth 2) Sutherland is starting to look very comfortable at the crease, which is dangerous for England. Just the one run from the over, but she knows when her opportunities are there and England can’t seem to rush her or pressure her.
102nd over: Australia 384-8 (Sutherland 77, Garth 2) A lovely drive to deep extra cover for Sutherland for two runs to start us off this over and then she gets a little bit of inside edge past fine leg for four – she’s keeping this game moving for Australia. Bell has a big appeal on Garth for LBW and Knight isn’t too sure, but she decides to give her a shot. Unfortunately for Bell, it moved a bit too much and ball tracking shows it’s missing the stumps. At last she offers Garth something she can work with and she scores her first runs in a Test, driving to deep extra cover for two.
101st over: Australia 373-8 (Sutherland 68, Garth 0) Ready to resume with some more cricket after that drinks break! Ecclestone resumes and Garth gets the strike back after a quick single from Sutherland. She is very determinedly defensive, not taking any risks in her first Test match. Just the one run from Sutherland that over.
A little drinks break now and an opportunity to answer a question from reader Peter via email.
England’s bowling needs to tighten up.
Can/do women bowl reverse swing with the old ball ?
The answer is yes, but the lack of red ball cricket means they don’t get many opportunities. Ellyse Perry is probably the best proponent of reverse swing in the women’s game, but even she hasn’t had many chances to do it.
Updated
100th over: Australia 372-8 (Sutherland 67, Garth 0) Miss Jane from Twitter is also at the ground this morning, with a bit of insight for us on the weather and the load on Ecclestone so far this Test.
Another lovely morning here - slightly cooler thanks to a bit of cloud cover. Sticking with a close field for Ecclestone, I’ve seen commentary on the physical load on her but a fair mental load as well in bowling so long and sticking to what looks like a clear plan. pic.twitter.com/5HcsQikL8j
— missjane (@seejanecricket) June 23, 2023
Bell continues and Garth gets her first chance to face the bowling. She looks a little nervous, but defends the ball well and plays out the maiden without falling into any traps.
99th over: Australia 372-8 (Sutherland 67, Garth 0) Sutherland opens up a little now, hitting a four off Ecclestone’s bowling from the first ball of the over and follows it up with a two a couple of balls later and another two the ball after that. We’re having another one of those run out reviews and this one is much closer – Garth is nearly gone for a diamond duck on debut, which is quite the alliteration! But she sneaks her bat back in time and she gets a chance to bat on.
98th over: Australia 362-8(Sutherland 56, Garth 0) Frankie is at the ground and has spotted a little message for Australia in the scoreboard.
Nice that Trent Bridge has a tribute to an Australian hero #Blueyart #Washes ping @meganmaurice pic.twitter.com/jTbi5UBeMY
— Frankie (@cricket_frankie) June 23, 2023
We’re having a look at a run out here – one of those ones where the batter hits it straight back and the bowler gets a fingertip on it. But King gets her bat back in her crease too quickly for it to be a worry. Bell is back into the attack and she has an appeal late in the over for an LBW, but there’s an inside edge from King. Next ball, Bell decides to just hit the stumps instead and it’s a solid plan. King has to go for 21 and it brings debutant Kim Garth to the crease.
WICKET! King b Bell 21 (Australia 362-8)
Bell breaks through King’s defences and her stumps go flying. She has to head back to the pavilion.
Updated
97th over: Australia 359-7 (Sutherland 56, King 21) Another over from Ecclestone and she will be hoping she can trap King again and see the end of her this time. King doesn’t look overly comfortable – the leg spinner v leg spinner battle isn’t quite as well known as the fast bowler v fast bowler one, but these two look like they want to change that. There’s a half-hearted appeal on the fifth, but no one aside from Jones at wicket keeper is very interested. King finishes safely and it’s a maiden for Ecclestone.
Updated
96th over: Australia 359-7 (Sutherland 56, King 21) Sutherland plays a lovely cut shot, but Nat Sciver-Brunt cuts it off and doesn’t allow any runs to come from it. Filer is getting some nice length and creating opportunities, but the Australians just aren’t falling into her traps at this stage of the morning. Sutherland plays one down to deep midwicket for two and she’s satisfied with that from the over.
95th over: Australia 357-7 (Sutherland 54, King 21) We get our first look at Ecclestone for today – she was England’s talisman yesterday and they will want the same from her today. Sutherland picks up two driving to deep extra cover and then the ball slips back past the over to give her another single. It’s not the start Ecclestone would have wanted. There’s an appeal on the fourth ball of the over and the umpire gives it not out, but England are quick to review. It’s very close, but there’s an umpire’s call on the ball hitting the stumps, so the onfield decision is upheld and King is safe.
Updated
94th over: Australia 354-7 (Sutherland 51, King 21) Guy Hornsby has a lot of faith in Australia’s tail.
Morning @meganmaurice, another great day if Test cricket! It's is a crucial session (aren't they all) but Australia bat *so deep* that they could easily put on 450-500 if we don't make inroads. Scoreboard pressure is so key & we struggle to contain. Ecclestone can't bowl all day.
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) June 23, 2023
Meanwhile, Filer continues her spell and Sutherland doesn’t look like she’s feeling the pressure close to her half century. She’s content to dig out these length balls Filer is sending down and keeping them away from her stumps. Sutherland takes advantage of a misfield to notch up the 50 and raises her bat to the crowd.
Updated
FIFTY! Annabel Sutherland
The youngster picks up her half century off 100 balls – a very nice innings from the number eight.
93rd over: Australia 351-7 (Sutherland 48, King 21) Will we see Sutherland notch up her 50 this over? Not if Cross has any say in the matter. She bowls a very straight one first up and Sutherland defends it back to her. Sutherland eventually takes a single and gives King back the strike. Cross isn’t happy with the ball and takes it over to the umpire for a chat. The umpire thinks it’s fine, but Cross doesn’t look convinced.
92nd over: Australia 350-7 (Sutherland 47, King 21) Filer continues her spell and on the second ball, King pulls out her pull shot past deep midwicket for four. Filer tidies up her length next ball and King doesn’t play a shot, content to let that one go through to the keeper and leaves the next ball as well. On the fifth ball of the over, she gets bat on ball, but mistimes it and can’t score runs from it, so she goes back to leaving the final ball of the over.
91st over: Australia 346-7 (Sutherland 47, King 17) Cross continues and on the third ball of the over, Sutherland plays a beautiful straight drive past long on for four and she immediately looks more at ease after being stifled for a few overs. She’s content to defend for the rest of the over, as she gets close to her half century.
90th over: Australia 342-7 (Sutherland 43, King 17) Our first bowling change of the day and it’s Lauren Filer in to replace Lauren Bell – a nice Lauren switch from Heather Knight. Clive Woodbridge on Twitter thinks it should have been Filer from the start.
Heather Knight reminds me of Joe Root. Fabulous batter but captaincy by numbers. Filer should have opened the bowling this morning
— clive woodbridge (@blandishments) June 23, 2023
She starts with a series of dots and nearly tempts King into throwing her wicket away on the fourth. King is starting to look frustrated after all these dots and a full toss on the last ball of the over gives her the release she needs to smack it away for a quick two.
Updated
89th over: Australia 340-7 (Sutherland 43, King 15) Cross resumes and Sutherland picks up where she left off also. She doesn’t look overly happy about the dot balls – it’s a maiden from Cross.
88th over: Australia 340-7 (Sutherland 43, King 15) Bell returns for another over and Sutherlands gets herself a bit more strike. They’re playing with great patience so far, the Australians. There’s no sense of rushing or urgency, just finding the gaps when they come. One comes on the third ball of the over and Sutherland works it to square leg for an easy single. King wastes no time playing a beautiful cut shot past deep cover for four. She resettles herself for the rest of the over and goes into defensive mode.
87th over: Australia 335-7 (Sutherland 42, King 11) Sutherland gets her first look at the bowling for today and Cross comes into the attack. Off the second ball of the over, Sutherland flicks the ball to deep square leg for two. She’s looking comfortable and not feeling pressured to play shots that aren’t there. The fifth ball of the over she steers one to short third for a single and King closes out the over.
86th over: Australia 332-7 (Sutherland 39, King 11) Here we go, we’re underway on day two! Bell bowls the first over of the day and King is on strike to start us off. Bell gets a bit of shape early, but King safely defends it to short midwicket. The second ball is wider, but King doesn’t fall into the trap and leaves it alone. On the third ball she takes a risk and sticks her bat out at another wide ball and guides it past third for a four. She then sits back a little and defends the last three balls of the over, content with her work.
Updated
What do we think dear OBO readers? Will England tear through these last three wickets and get out there to bat early on day two?
Ready for day two at Trent Bridge!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 23, 2023
Will we see Australia bowl in this first session? Tune in now on 9Now #Ashes pic.twitter.com/rGb6WPjolr
We’re very close to play getting underway – so close that Gem is even going to stop playing this very important episode of Keeping Up Appearances to give us five minutes of build up before the first ball is bowled.
Ellyse Perry is correct here, of course. You don’t really get anything for a century, just one more run for your team, not that huge in the scheme of things. And yet, we just love round numbers, don’t we? Crazy that we’ve imbued the number 100 with such significance when you think about it.
"It's a number."
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 23, 2023
Such humility from one of the all-time greats after falling one run short of a third Test century.
Hear from Ellyse Perry after day one to get you in the mood for day two in 30 minutes! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/9LQNdxc5wA
A great email from reader Penelope, who is definitely in agreement that we need more women’s Test cricket and more five day women’s Tests.
Until the women get a decent number of five day Tests, we will be unable to really see how the teams line up.
For instance, your wonderful young bowler Filer has to be rested as she is not used to longer sessions over multiple days.
At least three five day Tests should be scheduled for the women, or how else can they play to their full potential?
Still, it’s great to follow the current contest.
Cheers
Penelope
And this is a nice bit of perspective on Perry’s batting performances in Tests so far in her career.
Full list of cricketers with more Test runs and a higher batting average than Ellyse Perry:
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) June 22, 2023
Donald Bradman #Ashes
If you were watching yesterday and suddenly realised that you haven’t seen all that much women’s Test cricket before, let this tweet from Dan Liebke put it into perspective for you.
A big milestone for Ellyse Perry who, in her sixteenth year of international cricket, has now played half as many Tests as Cameron Green. #Ashes
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) June 22, 2023
If you’d like to read about a little bit of everything, then Raf Nicholson has written a typically fantastic match report that I think you’ll love as well!
If Perry isn’t for you – perhaps you’d prefer to read about debutant Lauren Filer? Well we’ve got something for you too!
Updated
Warm up into day two by reading the beautiful words of Geoff Lemon and marvel at his comparison of Ellyse Perry to Arnold Schwarzenegger in a way that somehow works?
Preamble
Hello and welcome to day two! I hope you’ve recovered from a brilliant day one and are ready for another big day of cricket. The first day of this long-anticipated Test had everything – debutants batting and bowling, successful reviews, reviews that didn’t happen but should have because they would have been successful, catches and dropped catches, boundaries and defensive shots, Ellyse Perry being godlike and Ellyse Perry showing she is mortal after all by losing her wicket on 99.
Can you believe after all that, we get to come back and do it all again today? What a treat! Australia resume on 328-7 with Annabel Sutherland on 39 and Alana King on 7. Australia will be happy with the runs they have accrued so far, but England will feel they clawed back a little bit of ascendancy after taking the wickets of Perry, captain Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen and Ash Gardner later in the day.
Play gets underway at 11am BST / 8pm AEST, so we’ll work our way into the game over the next hour, but why not start by enjoying this lovely moment of Phoebe Litchfield receiving her baggy green from the person who was out there with her for her first half century in professional cricket, Alex Blackwell.
In Phoebe Litchfield's second ever @WBBL match, she batted with the great @AlexBlackwell2 and made a memorable fifty.
— Australian Women's Cricket Team 🏏 (@AusWomenCricket) June 22, 2023
Today, four years on, Pheebs received Baggy Green no. 183 from Alex 🥹 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/7DtQiCxPqr
