It has been a few days since my last post, and a lot has happened in both the men’s and women’s ashes. This post looks at these various developments.
THE WOMEN’S ASHES
The brilliance of Tammy Beaumont (a new England women’s record score of 208 in their first innings) and Sophie Ecclestone (five wickets in each Australian innings) proved to be of no avail. England were bowled out for 178 in the final innings to lose by 89 runs, off spinner Ash Gardner taking 8-66. This is the first time in any test match, men’s or women’s that a losing side has featured both a double centurion and a taker of a 10 wicket match haul. The men’s game has provided three honourable mentions – in the tied test match between India and Australia at Chennai in 1986 Dean Jones had a double century and Greg Matthews took 10 wickets, while in England’s bottle-job at Adelaide in 2006 Collingwood scored 206 and Matthew Hoggard claimed eight wickets in the match, and finally, at the SCG in 1894 Syd Gregory scored 201 in the first innings, George Giffen had a match aggregate of over 200 runs AND claimed eight wickets in the match, and their side, Australia, lost by 10 runs.
THE MEN’S ASHES
Rehan Ahmed was added to the men’s squad in the run up to the second match of their series, which got underway at Lord’s today. In the event Ahmed was not picked, England going for an all seam attack. As was virtually dictated by this selection England put Australia in to bat, a decision that is not working out well. As I type this Australia are 181-2 with Smith and Labuschagne going well, the first named having gone past 9,000 runs in test cricket in the course of this innings. Both wickets have fallen to Josh Tongue. Broad and Anderson have had good moments but as yet no wickets, while Robinson has looked innocuous. Rehan Ahmed is on the field at present, as a substitute fielder.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
aspiblog 