2023 Women’s Ashes – England vs Australia – Test Match Preview & Prediction
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THE FACTS
When is England vs Australia taking place? Thursday, June 22nd-26th, 2023 – 11:00 (UK)
Where is England vs Australia taking place? England vs Australia will take place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham
What channel is England vs Australia on? England vs Australia will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream England vs Australia? Sky Sports subscribers in the UK can stream England vs Australia live on Sky Go.
LAST MEETING
Match Drawn
THE LOWDOWN
ENGLAND
You have to go back to 2013-14 for the last time that England women were victorious in an Ashes series. Since then, they have been dominated by the Australian women’s team, who are seen by many as one of the greatest sporting sides to exist. However, with record crowds expected in England, the hosts will be hoping to reclaim former glories in this year’s Women’s Ashes. As usual, a multi-format series will be contested, starting at Trent Bridge in this five-day Test match. The last three Tests between these two nations ended in draws, but with this particular Test being played over five days, the chances of a result are significantly higher.
England have named uncapped pace bowler Lauren Filer among their starting XI, the Western Storm star picked ahead of Warwickshire and Central Sparks’ Issy Wong, whilst long-serving white ball batter Danni Wyatt will make her first Test appearance. The retirement of Katherine Sciver-Brunt leaves a hole in England’s bowling unit from a pace perspective and the pressure will be on Filer, Lauren Bell and Kate Cross with the support of dominating all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt to provide the potency required. In the spin department, Sophie Eccleston is obviously key for the hosts and should be aided by Emma Lamb, who is also expected to open the batting for Heather Knight’s side.
AUSTRALIA
It’s hard to understate the dominance that Australia women have enjoyed not only against England, but any opposition across the women’s international game for a significant number of years now. Not only have they won the women’s Ashes outright in three of the last four series (the other being a draw), Australia have also been victorious in each of their last four ICC major tournaments, winning three T20 World Cups and the 50-over Cricket World Cup in 2022. They will rightly come into this latest Ashes series as firm favourites, especially when taking into account the strength-in-depth at their disposal, not to mention their record against England in recent times.
However, there is a glaring absence amid their formidable squad, that being their captain Meg Lanning. An inspirational leader and gun top order batter, the 31-year-old will miss the entire women’s Ashes for medical reasons after having this year alone not only led her country to a sixth T20 World Cup title, but also top scored in the inaugural Women’s Premier League in India. Her loss will so badly felt by the tourists, not only for her batting, but for how well she skippers the team both in the dressing room and in the field. Deputy Alyssa Healy will step into her shoes and whilst her experience is also vast, it won’t be an easy task balancing the captaincy alongside her usual role as wicket-keeper and big-hitting batter. With that in mind, she may look to bat down the order in this Test match.
THE PREDICTION
The pressure is on Australia as world champions and holders of the women’s Ashes to defend their crown and set the tone in this crucial Test, with four priceless multi-format series points available for victory at Trent Bridge. Having now had a established fully professional domestic system for over two seasons, it feels like England are drawing ever closer to Australia and more players are successfully making the step up to the international stage, complimenting the long-standing stars such as Heather Knight, Amy Jones, Kate Cross and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
When factoring in how well the hosts have batted in the warm-up red ball fixture against ‘Australia A’ leading up to this Test match, opener Tammy Beaumont standing up in particular with a double-hundred, England do have the quality of batting to match the Australian bowling unit on what should be a batter friendly pitch. Lanning’s leadership and runs will be missed in equal fashion and with a loud home crowd expected to get behind the hosts, backing England to avoid defeat by picking up either a win or a draw feels like the shrewd play to make.
TIP: DOUBLE CHANCE – ENGLAND WOMEN/DRAW
