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There is a stark difference between the England and Australia XIs – and that difference is evident as the hosts were the first to put points on the board in the 2025 Women’s Ashes by winning the opening international of ‘a day by four wickets in Sydney.
Australia have immense depth while the reliability of England’s batting down the order is not up to the mark. Annabel Sutherland – who has three ODI centuries to her name in a four-year career – comes in at five for Australia. Below Sutherland are Ash Gardner and Tahlia McGrath, two of the most recognized all-rounders in women’s cricket.
In comparison, England number five Danni Wyatt-Hodge has scored two ODI centuries in his 14-year career. Below Wyatt-Hodge are Amy Jones and Alice Capsey, respectively an average 29-year-old and a 20-year-old whose best ODI score is 44.
To add to this, although the rankings are not exhaustive, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy feature in the top 10 batters in women’s ODI cricket. England only have Nat Sciver-Brunt in this exclusive club.
Healy’s performance is a great example of the quality the Australians have in their ranks. The 34-year-old led from the front, scoring 70 off 78 balls and laid the foundation for the innings from the start.
“I think just looking at our top order, looking at Healy and [Phoebe] Litchfield, they’re going to take over the game,” Gardner said.
“For someone like Midge [Healy] to take the power play, when the ball is in his zone to support himself. I think sometimes you can kind of find yourself chasing a low total rather than just trying to hit correctly.
“I think today, scoring around 70 in front of our home crowd as well, I guess that probably energizes you as a captain and leading from the front.”
The mostly Australian crowd gathered on the grassy bank of a sold-out North Sydney Oval were entertained as they watched their XI pick off the English team one by one, bowling out the visitors for just 203.
Gardner, who took three for 19, helped his side limit the visitors’ total, and it was Gardner who once again played a crucial role alongside Healy in batting, finishing on an unbeaten 42.
While there may not have been a huge disparity between totals throughout the innings – for example, England being 45-1 and Australia 53-2 after the powerplay, safety in the depth of the hosts automatically put them in the spotlight.
One of England’s other weaknesses, particularly highlighted during the recent T20 World Cup, was catching. The spotlight was used as a response to allay questions about poor fielding following England’s surprise exit from the Dubai tournament. On a sunny afternoon in Sydney, that get-out-of-jail-free card can’t be taken away.
A crowd catching Amy Jones’ powerful six in the first innings demonstrated the calm, composed and collected nature that England’s fielders would have liked to display, with the one-handed diving catch proving even more impressive as the spectator in question Didn’t spill the drink. in his other hand.
Instead, Capsey dropped Perry for seven, a catch that should have been taken and which the England player simply fumbled. Ultimately, Perry was fired for 14 years, unable to cause too much damage. However, the early breach would have been a statement of intent from England and could have put pressure on a generally comfortable batting line-up.
Wyatt-Hodge’s dynamic fielding and confident catches to dismiss Mooney and Sutherland redeemed, to some extent, the quality of England’s fielding. However, Sophie Ecclestone, after grabbing the ball, took a long shot off Gardner on 31. Australia were in the home stretch, but a wicket at this stage could have given a glimmer of hope to the England.
“Sophie doesn’t drop a lot of holds, it’s very rare to see a Sophie Ecclestone fall,” said Lauren Bell. “I think she had it, I don’t think she could do it again if she tried, she hit her elbows and it came out. I was partying but people were letting go.
“There are a few things we could definitely work on and move forward. Obviously Australia caught up really well and we lost a few at important times, but I think overall, we take a lot of confidence from the game.”
