Alana King, the Australian spinner took 4/45 and helped her side gain an advantage on the first day of the Women's Ashes Test in Melbourne on Thursday. Australia Women won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
England after losing the T20I and the ODI series, needed a big heart to make a comeback in the Test match. However, that did not happen, as the visitors were bowled out for just 170 in their first innings.
Apart from Alana Kings's four-wicket-spell, pacers Kim Garth and Darcie Brown took a wicket each. All-rounder Ashleigh Garder took one wicket. For England, Nat-Sciver Brunt, top-scored with 51 from 129 balls. A few of their batters scored in their 20s but there was a big contribution missing from the top-order.
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The Australian side playing in their home conditions understood the pitch and made a wise decision to bowl first. The decision by skipper Alyssa Healy was absolutely pinpoint as the Aussie bowlers were relentless and did not allow the opposition batters to score easy runs. It was fighting knock by Nat Sciver Brunt but she did not get the support she needed from the rest of the batters. They were at the England batters throughout their batting effort.
Advantage Australia At Stumps On Day 1
Chasing England's first innings score of 170, Australia by the end of the day's play had already scored 56 in 22 overs. Laurel Bell was able to dismiss Georgia Voll (12 off 16). However, Phoebe Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland added an unbeaten stand of 37 runs from 90 balls.
Alana King's bowling display on the very first day of the Ashes Test should inspire the likes of Sophie Ecclestone. She is a senior spinner in the side and had a big role to play on day 2 if England are to make a comeback in the Test match.
Meanwhile, hosts only needed to tie the series to retain the Ashes, having been held to an 8-8 draw in a memorable series in England in 2023, but are now targeting a 16-0 clean sweep with just the Test match in Melbourne remaining. Australia have not suffered defeat in an Ashes series since 2014, and England have only managed two series wins in seven attempts since the competition switched to a points system in 2013.
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