This is the latest news about England Women vs Australia Women test match. Cricket Australia prioritized making history by moving the MCG Test to the end of the series for the first time in the multi-format Women’s Ashes. However, there is now a chance that the home team will complete an unprecedented 16-point-to-nil thumping in the first pink-ball Test and the first Women’s Test played at the renowned venue in 76 years.
This unexpected state of affairs follows an eight-all draw in England eighteen months ago, and each Australian victory this year has raised the key question hanging over the Test: Will there be a large enough crowd to prevent the 100,000-seat stadium from looking bleak?
It’s unclear how many people will go out late at the end of the first week of a new school year to watch Australia crush their opponents or England play for pride, now that the trophy has been decided. The best chance for a large crowd is likely to be home fans who are excited to see the latter over the weekend. Furthermore, considering that the venue last hosted a record 86,000+ spectators for the 2020 T20 World Cup final, the idea of a bumper must be tempered.
Given the lack of mid-sized venues that can accommodate 20,000 people, which is more common at home, Heather Knight, the England captain whose position has been under pressure (along with head coach Jon Lewis) amid a winless campaign thus far, backed the ambition displayed by holding the match at the MCG.
On match eve, Knight remarked, “The opportunity to play a Test match at the MCG is just iconic.” “Everyone is really disappointed with how we’ve performed so far. We’d much rather do that and then have the ambition in the future to continue growing the crowds and bringing people in.” As a team, we believe we haven’t performed at our highest level of cricket. We haven’t demonstrated our values, and the next four days are our opportunity to do so, showcasing our true selves as individuals and as cricket players.”
Read More About England Women vs Australia Women Test Match
Since the Women’s Ashes switched to a multi-format event in 2013, the Test has played a significant role in deciding the series’ trajectory on multiple occasions. Australia was 8-2 ahead and on the verge of regaining the Ashes after a 161-run victory at Canterbury in 2015, which they achieved by winning one of the next three Twenty20 Internationals. Even though they lost both white-ball series, they were able to keep the Ashes in 2023 thanks to their 89-run victory at Trent Bridge.
The first Twenty20 International in Hobart sealed the series for England after their 61-run victory in Perth in 2013–14 put them on track. It was England’s final series victory on Australian soil. Australia had already won the trophy, so the series was unaffected by the tense 2021–22 draw, but it was crucial for the game because Australia took nine wickets in a session, and England, needing to win by 257 runs, posted the highest fourth-innings score in women’s Test history. In the last over, tailenders Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross held out despite the possibility of all four outcomes.
Knight scored 48 and 168 not out in that Test in Canberra, and the criticism from her team has increased her desire to contribute significantly in this match once again. “The way we’ve performed and the results in this series, I think you come to expect that extra scrutiny and pressure,” Knight stated. “There’s no doubt that there has been a lot of noise.”People will most likely respond to it in different ways.
It’s likely that some people will try to ignore it and make every effort to improve the situation. It will serve as motivation for some. Given the outcomes, some criticism is inevitable, and that is entirely reasonable. It is our responsibility to attempt to improve the situation and achieve some success this week.
“I’m probably someone that is at my best when I’ve got a bit of a point to prove, and I certainly do have it this week, so hopefully I can put in a really good performance for the side over the next four days.” Beth Mooney, the series’ standout performer with 303 runs across both white-ball legs, including an undefeated 94 in that match, admitted that the tension was gone from the series after Australia crushed England by 72 runs in the final Twenty20 International in Adelaide last weekend.
“It certainly would have been nice if we played the Test match while the series was still on the line, maybe earlier in the series, but that wasn’t to be,” she stated. “On an individual front and as a group, it’s come at a great time for us to basically just show off our skills and really enjoy playing the four-day game.”
Will the MCG witness two unrestrained teams performing at one of the most prestigious venues in the sport with no results at stake? Or will it be a brutal Australian team looking to further establish their dominance over a struggling team with a lot on the line?
Whatever happens, it will be an exciting conclusion to the tour when you add in the inevitable discussion about the role of Tests in the women’s game, which will be played with only three full training days available in advance.
Read Also: Usman Khawaja: No Retirement Plans But Knows When to Exit
Hi, I'm Tahir! I hold an MPhil in English Linguistics and have a deep passion for exploring and sharing ideas through writing. Currently, I’m focused on crafting engaging blog posts and thriving as a freelancer. With every word I write, I aim to inspire, inform, and connect with readers around the world. Thank you for visiting my blog—let’s embark on this journey of knowledge and creativity together!