Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
48 | (maiden) | ENG-W: 245/9

  • Kate Cross1 (12b)
  • Sophie Ecclestone0 (1b)
  • Alana King9-1-39-2
  • Annabel Sutherland13-0-69-3

Well, what a day that has been. We'll wrap things up there for the commentary but we'll have more reaction on the site shortly. From Gnasher, Srivathsa and Alex it's goodbye, thanks for joining us, and we'll see you for the ODIs.

Michael: "I don't understand why people want a contest. The perfect Test match for me is Australia making 4 for about a thousand the England getting rolled for a hundred twice with Geoff Boycott having to retire hurt from a vicious bouncer from Lillee. State of Origin should be 50 nil to Qld every time. That is how you enjoy sport. "

ManojKanth: "Justified result at the end. Though Australia dominated the play in the last 30 minutes of the game, England doesn't deserve to lose the match considering the way they fought back in the game and attack continued in the second innings. A great game of test match at its best."

John: "Disappinting to see England 'shut up shop' with 2 overs to go when they really needed to win the game (Yes I know if they win all 3 ODIs they will win the Ashes). Even the tailenders these days can hit runs in a close chase at the end"

Arseny: "What do you mean by the ashes still being alive when it's an only test?" --- This is a multi-format series and Australia now lead it 6-4 with 6 points still available in the ODIs.

Charles : "Sophia Dunkley wicket changed the result of the match "

A few user comments before we sign off.

Meg Lanning: "Oh, wow, still quite know what quite happened in that last hour. England batted extremely well, but to fight back. I'm m extremely proud of the group. That's the great thing, we aren't relying on one or two players, that says a lot for the pathway programs . Annabel Sutherland was outstanding. I need a rest after that. It's a great series, two great sides."

Heather Knight is Player of the Match: It's a place I love batting. I've really enjoyed the Test, what a brilliant game from both teams, gone toe to toe, and I don't think it deserves a draw at end. Three days before the ODIs so will have to recover well, but feel pretty good. A word for Katherine, if it is her last Test, the way she bowled and fought, she is a real warrior, and really pleased that we got close. Probably an opportunity missed, but we'll look back and think what a game to be involved in.

Without the sporting declaration, the game would've meandered to a draw but both sides infused tremendous excitement into the contest with their displays. Hang on for the presentation...

What.A.Test! One of the all-time great games. A glorious advertisement for women's Test cricket and more importantly the Ashes is still alive. Both teams with smiles and relief on their faces. A sporting declaration opened the game up today after rain spoilt most of yesterday. Credit to England for taking on the challenge of the chase and if nor for the collapse - 6 for 27 late on, they were favorites to pull it off. Knight and Sciver with a solid stand but Australia kept fighting back with wickets and in the end they were one wicket from pulling off an unlikely win.

47.6
0
King to Cross, no run, England survive! Cross defends the high full-toss, on off, down to the off-side. A classic ends in a draw

Everyone in now - around the bat

47.5
0
King to Cross, no run, ooh! Quicker on off, Cross rocks back and cuts from off-stump, had she missed, would've been dead

Silly mid-off and silly mid-on very close added now

47.4
0
King to Cross, no run, floated up outside off with no-one back, Cross does not take the bait, lets it go

Lanning has a word with King. Long-off and long-on back. King around the wicket now as another slip is added

47.3
0
King to Cross, no run, tossed up on off, Cross defends it to the left of King
47.2
0
King to Cross, no run, flighted on middle, Cross gets forward to defend it back down the pitch

A couple of fielders getting protective equipment and they will be standing close-in. Prakash Gautam: "This is the very first time I have been watching a women's test match for so long. Watching for the last couple of hours. Greet advertisement for the women's cricket. Watching from Kansas, USA."

Silly point added

47.1
0
King to Cross, no run, tossed up on middle, Cross gets forward to defend it back down the pitch

Last over and let's see what Lanning does here with the field! King has the ball. Can she do it for Australia on debut? If she wins it, Australia retain the Ashes. Her family is watching from the stands. Slip and a short-leg in. Five fielders on the fence - 3 on the leg-side, 2 on the off

END OF OVER:
47 | 1 Run | ENG-W: 245/9

  • Kate Cross1 (6b)
  • Sophie Ecclestone0 (1b)
  • Annabel Sutherland13-0-69-3
  • Alana King8-0-39-2
46.6
1
Sutherland to Cross, 1 run, angled into the pads, Cross defends to mid-on and takes the single on offer

Tim: "Hands down best test of the Australian summer! Win lose or draw a great advertisment for women's cricket, hopefully this leads to more women's test matches overall!!"

Rohith: "Rather than 5 day tests, I would like to see women playing more tests, in fact more international games. Cricket, irrespective of who plays, will always be exciting to watch."

46.5
0
Sutherland to Cross, no run, down leg, ignored

Marco: "Aside from advocating 5 day Tests, i think its equally important for them to have more experience at state level. i dont know what the set up is in England, but Australia has no multi-day format competition at state level, and the WNCL runs in a condensed format over around 8 days a year, so a lot of these girls get very little experience in the longer formats"

A slip in now

46.4
0
Sutherland to Cross, no run, Cross is beaten again outside off, full outside off and Cross hangs her bat out

Looks like England have shut shop. They are going for the draw now. Lanning readjusts her field. Starc is watching from outside

46.3
0
Sutherland to Cross, no run, beaten! Full outside off, Cross drives loosely and misses, not far from the edge
46.2
0
Sutherland to Cross, no run, good length on off, Cross defends with an open face to backward point

Vaibhav Jain: "@Scott i am aware of the calls. But the louder calls are for more women's test and some sort of regular series structure in place. Those are more pressing items. Also a 5th day as reserve day is a good suggestion. Untill we see longer series and regular tests, a 1-off 5 day test is still not enough. Also consider playing 5 days in all conditions like India which is quite challenging."

46.1
0
Sutherland to Cross, no run, dug in short down leg, Cross ducks and lets it go

12 balls | 13 runs | 1 wicket. Australia favorites now. Some of the English ladies can't bear to watch. Still the field is back

END OF OVER:
46 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | ENG-W: 244/9

  • Sophie Ecclestone0 (1b)
  • Kate Cross0 (0b)
  • Alana King8-0-39-2
  • Annabel Sutherland12-0-68-3
45.6
0
King to Ecclestone, no run, Ecclestone keeps the last ball out off the back foot
45.5
W
King to Dean, OUT, top-edge and straight up. King went round the wicket and tosses it up, Dean slogsweeps but can only top-edge it, Healy takes the catch. They are checking for a back foot no-ball here. The third umpire reckons that the first point of contact is not touching the return crease and goes with the bowler. King definitely touched the crease but not when she made first contact which was crucial

CE Dean c †Healy b King 3 (10m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 60.00

Brett: "Re. 5 day tests, most of yesterday was washed out and we have an exciting contest, so maybe we should reduce women's tests to three days?? I actually think the pitches women were given to play on are more the reason for the draws, but I think that situation is now improving."

What a game. Both sides could win it. And it could either be a draw or a tie too. Phew

45.4
W
King to Shrubsole, OUT, drifts into Shrubsole, who takes it on the pad outside leg, Dean calls her through for a legbye but Shrubsole is very slow, Healy throws it to King who manages to break the stumps catching the batter just short

A Shrubsole run out 6 (12m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

Now a 45 placed. Has King run Shrubsole out? Yes she has.

45.3
1
King to Dean, 1 run, Dean premeditates the paddle and top-edges it over Healy's head, just a single

Four inside the ring now

45.2
1
King to Shrubsole, 1 run, short on off, Shrubsole pulls in the air and it's miles short of long-on

England Women in Australia 2021-22 News

ENG Women 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st52TT BeaumontL Winfield-Hill
2nd42HC KnightL Winfield-Hill
3rd72HC KnightNR Sciver
4th52NR SciverSIR Dunkley
5th6AE JonesSIR Dunkley
6th9KH BruntSIR Dunkley
7th3KH BruntA Shrubsole
8th8A ShrubsoleCE Dean
9th0S EcclestoneCE Dean
10th1KL CrossS Ecclestone