Key events
Beth Mooney was the standout player of the T20 leg of the Ashes as she amassed 213 runs across three innings in the shortest format. The opener-sometimes-keeper has also been making her mark as a regular Guardian columnist across the series and has explained what playing a Test on the MCG will mean to her and the rest of the group, as well as revealing how determined Australia are to complete a clean sweep.
There has been a lot of chat around the 2023 Ashes and that we let England back into the contest to tie that series. We wanted to make sure we didn’t give them a sniff this time.
The conditions in Melbourne are nothing short of perfect for both players and the fans packing the stands – sunny and a high of 21C forecast throughout the day, dropping to around 17C at stumps. It should be warmer over the next three days but still with few clouds on the horizon let alone any hint of rain.
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the historic Women’s Ashes Test at the MCG. Australia and England will play the first day-night, pink-ball Test at the grand arena, while also meeting in this format at the venue for the first time since 1949.
Australia won that Test convincingly 76 years ago and are firm favourites to pull off a similar result this time after an all-conquering Ashes series so far. The hosts have taken all 12 points with three victories in each of the ODI and T20s legs, and have been quite open about wanting to complete the first clean sweep since the multi-format series was introduced.
That should be reason enough for England to turn up for a fight over the next four days in Melbourne and the tourists can at least turn to brushing aside history in their most recent Test outing. England thumped South Africa by 286 runs last December for their first Test victory in a decade as Maia Bouchier and Nat Sciver-Brunt hit first-innings hundreds, captain Heather Knight top-scored with 90 in the second innings, then pacer Lauren Bell ripped through the hosts as they were skittled for just 64 in the chase.
England’s hopes might be more measured this time, especially if Australia captain Alyssa Healy overcomes injury concerns to don the baggy green this afternoon. More on that shortly with the toss and team news coming up in about half an hour.
First ball will be at 2.30pm local time / AEDT or 3.30am for those watching from the chillier climes in England.
Meanwhile, let us know your thoughts and predictions – shoot me an email or find me @martinpegan on Bluesky or X. Let’s get into it!
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