The Ashes Test – Fourth Day
Ecclestone, the One-woman show
Sophie Ecclestone returned the remarkable figures of 77.1-16-192-10 across two innings.
On a burning hot day she wheeled away selflessly, while Heather Knight’s choice of bowlers and bowling changes came under question.
But neither Ecclestone’s bowling nor Tammy Beaumont’s record-breaking batting could give hope of victory at the end of another see-sawing day.
In the evening session England’s batting returned to type: five top-order wickets fell in fifteen overs to make victory a distant prospect.
Morning session
At least the bowling was much tighter at the start. Kate Cross took a wicket before 100 was on the board, but the first big breakthrough came when Knight brought Lauren Filer on. In a memorable spell she completed two consecutive wicket-maidens and took the prized wicket of Ellyse Perry for the second time. Tahlia McGrath was her other victim, her off-stump uprooted.
No need to ask hypocaust or Statsguru which other English 22-year-old quickie has achieved as much on debut. It was another thrilling spell of test cricket.
Beth Mooney remained at the tiller. She faced 168 balls before Ecclestone finally defeated her. By then Australia had reached 195-5 (a first-innings lead of 10, remember).
The session was marked by English errors and bad luck. The errors were dropped catches of course. Nat Sciver-Brunt couldn’t hold a return catch off her second ball. Cross, who bowled a more demanding line than yesterday, also muffed an offer in the second over of the day. The bad luck was a stumping chance, where Amy Jones removed the bails a shade before Ellyse Perry’s foot lifted off the floor.
The Australians weren’t in a hurry
Australian patience was both a relief and a warning. England weren’t to face an onslaught till Alyssa Healy came in belatedly at No 8; but they were bound to tire in 30 degree heat as the pitch was giving little away.
Unbelievably Cross deceived Phoebe Litchfield in the same way as on the first day. The young left-hander played no stroke to a ball that jagged back to hit off. What a delivery!
We had to wait till the total was nearing 150 for Filer’s dramatic intervention. 149-1 became 151-3. Hope springs eternal.
Perry’s innings had confirmed her team’s strategy. She took 65 balls to reach 25 and hit just two fours.
Lunch 157-3 Still a long trek ahead for England.
The afternoon session may prove to have been the crucial one of the fifteen on offer. Ecclestone,
still wheeling away, bowled Jonassen who played an ugly swipe.
Annabel Sutherland was promoted after her first innings showing, but she couldn’t convince this time. Wyatt dropped a chance, and other edges showed her discomfort. Cross found the edge of Ashleigh Gardner’s bat; she was caught by Knight (196-6). In the 61st over Sutherland fell to Ecclestone (21-4-41-3), caught at square leg.
Tea 254-7
The worry for England now was Healy’s progress. She hadn’t been in her best batting form recently, but she took the game to the bowlers. By the time Ecclestone had her caught by Lamb, she had reached 50, enough to turn the match.
At long last Lauren Bell was allowed a bowl. At once she had Alana King caught by the skipper. That was to be her only contribution of the day.
What policy lay behind this under-use? She can’t have been ill or injured, since she remained on the field. If Knight had so little confidence in her, why was she picked in the first place? The moment the other Lauren was brought on she took two wickets. Why the discrepancy?
Bell didn’t bowl again because Ecclestone wrapped up the innings with her fifth wicket. She won an lbw decision against Darcie Brown, and was swamped in congratulations. She was quite pleased herself.
Australia had crumbled to 257 to be all out by 4.20.
This change of fortune – not the first of the match – had renewed English confidence. The crowd even broke into rhythmic clapping. Phil Long informed us that Ecclestone was the first England spinner to take ten wickets at Trent Bridge. Not Laker, not Lock, not Underwood.
The final target was ‘only’ 268. Unfortunately test history reveals no side has got anywhere near 200 to win a game in the fourth innings of a test.
England’s Second Innings
Lamb and Beaumont, who seemed inexhaustible, got England off to a rapid start. They were going for it! The 50 arrived in ninth over.
The first setback came when Ash Gardner claimed her fifth wicket of the match, getting Beaumont caught by Mooney (22). She had scored 431 runs against the best side in the world in three innings.
All too predictably a second wicket followed. Lamb (28) couldn’t survive an lbw decision against McGrath. Suddenly both openers were gone. Two more consecutive wicket-maidens, then Knight responded with a six.
Dominoes fall
In the closing session the Australian attack, led by Gardner, ripped the heart out of the England reply, 59-1 became 73-4 as Lamb (28), Knight (9) and NS-B (0, third ball) all fell. Sophia Dunkley hadn’t looked herself in the first innings. Here she hung around, but fell three overs from the close, for Kim Garth to claim her first test wicket.
So after all the good work, victory now looks out of the question. Danni Wyatt is still there, 20 not out, but with no other recognised batter to help her add the 152 runs still required. And it will be a fifth-day track.
Tailpiece
As for the double centurion, I hope she received the Freedom of Dover long ago. What can the Mayor and Corporation offer her now?
As for the 10-wicket taker, my thoughts are totally confused. This was a superhuman performance, but did Lewis really want and expect her to hold one end down for two entire Australian innings? Wasn’t there a lesson to be learned from the India test last year?
For all her skills she conceded 192 runs. In the ongoing fourth innings Ash Gardner has picked up three top wickets for 33 with her off-spin.
Did Lewis expect his captain to bowl? If so, why did she appear so late in proceedings? If not, why no second spinner? There’s no second test for second thoughts.
As things stand, it looks as though a double ton and a 10-wicket haul will not be enough to beat the all-conquering Aussies. If England do pull through tomorrow, you’ll know you can be as confident as Alex Hartley, and ignore me.
Close of play scores
Australia: 473 and 257 England: 463 and 116-5
England need 152 to win
Umpires: Anna Harris and Sue Redfern
