Australia Women ended Day 1 of the only Test match of the 2021/22 Ashes in a strong position, on 327/7 after Heather Knight put them in. Key contributions came from captain Meg Lanning (93), Rachael Haynes (86), Ash Gardner (56) and Tahlia McGrath (52). After the early dismissals of Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Elyssa Perry, Lanning and Haynes added 169 for the fourth wicket. The other significant partnership was between Gardner and McGrath of 84 runs.
For England, the experienced duo of Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt were the pick of the bowlers, with three wickets each. Their fielders also dropped a few catches, especially of Lanning, and suffered as a result of that.
Australia will look to add quick runs on Day 2 before getting bowled out. They will look to bat only once in the four-day Test match, and will expect Jess Jonassen to contribute. Jonassen had two Test match fifties, including a 99, on debut, including a 99. Of Australia’s remaining batters, Annabel Sutherland and Darcie Brown are playing their second Test matches, while Alana King is debuting.role.
England will be happy with the effort put in by the experienced Brunt, who has bowled 18 overs for her three wickets. They will hope for early breakthroughs from her and Anya Shrubsole to dismiss Australia without making any significant addition to their overnight total.
Once England come to bat, they will expect their top order to contribute significantly like the Australian top order. Knight and the openers, Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield-Hill, will be expected to score heavily, and the battle will be against the Australia new-ball bowlers like Brown, Sutherland, and Perry. Knight and Beaumont had scored fifties in their last Test match, in June against India.
England used six bowlers, while Australia can utilise up to seven, including all-rounders like Perry, McGrath and Gardner. While the pacers are expected to get more purchase from the pitch, the spinners, Jonassen and Gardner, will look to keep the things tight and create pressure on the English batters.
Fantasy Tips
- Brunt and Shrubsole are expected to run through the Australian lower order and can be good picks.
- Among Australian bowlers, Brown, Perry, and McGrath will be popular picks, along with the debutant King.
- The England top-order batters, particularly Knight and Beaumont, are expected to score heavily. Contributions can also come from Nat Sciver, Sophia Dunkley and Amy Jones.