Updating one of my posts from my all-time XIs series and sharing some of my photographs.
This time two years ago when no one knew when or even if live cricket would be able to resume I did a series of posts themed on All Time XIs. This post updates one of those posts to reflect a spectacular new arrival on the cricket scene.
THE ORIGINAL
The original post that I am making a minor update to can be found here. Below is the infographic displaying both teams from that post:
THE UPDATE
Walter Gilbert, the number five in the original Music XI, in as a namesake of the great WS Gilbert, was an obscure cousin of WG Grace (the WG in his name standing for William Gilbert, after the author of “De Magnete”) whose record was hardly outstanding and whose career ended in sad circumstances. Pakistan Women have just given a debut to Tuba Hassan (the tuba is the largest of the brass instruments), a leg spinner who is good enough with the bat to have opened in domestic cricket. She had a sensational first international outing, taking 3-8, and on the strength of that I am dropping Gilbert and bringing her in. Thus, the new teams read:
A brief account of the WBBL final which took place early this morning UK time.
INTRODUCTION
This post looks at the final of the Women’s Big Bash League, which took place in the early hours of this morning UK time.
A SPLENDID FINAL
Sophie Devine had had a dream season for the Adelaide Strikers but had a personal nightmare in the final. The Kiwi fell for just five, before her compatriot Suzie Bates and Tahlia McGrath righted things with a good second wicket stand. Both were out close together and Bridget Patterson and Kayleigh Mack both went cheaply, but Amanda–Jade Wellington whose previous competition best score was 23 made a splendid 55 off 33 balls to give the strikers a final total of 161-7 from their 20 overs. Maddy Green managed only 11 for Heat in the reply, but then Sammy–Jo Johnson blasted 27 off just 11 balls (including four sixes off Sophie Devine) to put Heat well ahead of the rate. Jess Jonassenmade 33 off 28, and Laura Harris was unbeaten on 19, in partnership with player of the final Beth Mooneywho anchored the innings with an unbeaten 56, Heat having 11 balls to spare (and six wickets, including Kiwi all-rounder Amelia Kerr, due to come in next) when they completed the chase. To win a big tournament is a fine achievement, but to do so twice running is particularly impressive because on the second occasion everyone else knows that you are the team to beat. Sophie Devine was player of the tournament, but in the final she could only produce five and figures of 1-46 from three overs. It was a highly enjoyable final, but ultimately Brisbane Heat were simply too good for Adelaide Strikers.
An account of the opening salvos in the Women’s Ashes and some photographs.
INTRODUCTION
Unlike the original Ashes, which have been fought for since 1882, the Women’s Ashes is contested across multiple formats. The current scoring system awards two points for a win in a limited overs match, 1 for a no-result and 0 for a defeat, while the sole test match is worth four points.Â
A Classic Match
The first of three ODIs that the women will be contesting took place at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane. Australia won the toss and put England in to bat. Several England players got starts but none managed to build a really substantial score, Lauren Winfield leading the way with 48. A total of 228 off 50 overs did not look like it was good enough, and in the end it wasn’t.
Eng;land bowled better than they had batted, and at 87-4 Australia were looking distinctly shaky. Alex Hartley failed to hold a return catch offered by veteran Alex Blackwell when the latter had 35 to her name, and Australia were behind the rate, Talia McGrath having occupied 26 balls for a score of 7. This missed chance and some aggression from Ash Gardner (27 off 18) made the difference, Australia getting home in the final over with Blackwell unbeaten on 67.Â
A highlight of this match was the preponderance of quality spin bowling on show – in Gardner, Amanda-Jade Wellington and Jess Jonassen Australia had three high-class practitioners, while Hartley and the experienced Laura Marsh both bowled well for England.
ON THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN ‘WOMEN’S ASHES’ AND ‘ASHES’
This applies across the board, and not just to cricket between England and Australia, but this seems a suitable place to mention this. I see the distinction between these categories as that between a restricted (“Women’s”) and an open category – if a woman is able to play alongside the men she should have the right to do so – the existence of Women only teams is an acknowledgement that few women could because the men are generally larger and stronger. Similarly if a disabled athlete happens to be performing comparably to their able-bodied counterparts they should be able to compete alongside them.Â
In terms of cricket I would expect that a woman who earned selection for ‘The Ashes’ as opposed ‘The Women’s Ashes’ would not be a specialist fast-bowler, but I could see spinners, wicket-keepers or batters earning selection.
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