An England cricket team collapsing in a heap in Australia, it’s the recurring nightmare for English cricket fans this winter.
The hosts clinched an emphatic Ashes series win with a game to spare thanks to their five-wicket triumph in the second ODI in Melbourne.
With the Ashes firmly in Aussie hands, Heather Knight’s tourists needed to win the last two 50-over games to escape with a drawn series Down Under. But the sorry visitors lost six wickets for a paltry 28 runs as they were bundled out for just 129.
Ellyse Perry starred with both bat and ball as the hosts eased to their first home Ashes victory since 2011. It shows the gulf in class between the two sides since they last met. In 2019, Perry was at the peak of her phenomenal powers as she ran through the English like a knife through warm butter. But now she barely gets in this Aussie side and she’s still bludgeoning England into submission. How long will it take to close the gap?
It’s been a woeful winter for England’s sides in Australia. Collectively the men’s, women’s and A teams have lost 14 matches without a win with four draws. At times the women’s series has been much closer than the men’s, but the result has been the same. Outplayed in the key moments on a poor trip to their oldest rivals.
It’s been poor preparation for their upcoming World Cup title defence in New Zealand. Australia are the overwhelming favourites to win the trophy, but England will be out for revenge after this tour. The two sides begin their respective campaigns for the trophy against one another on March 5 in Hamilton.
Ellyse Perry is Player of the Match 🏅
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England have been soundly beaten in all three limited-overs games on this trip. Is it a sign of things to come once the World Cup gets underway?
England started brightly and were 40/1 after the opening 10 overs before chaos ensured. But they soon found themselves on the brink at 68/7 as the Australian bowlers went to work.
Perry, 31, took her first ODI wickets since 2019 as she claimed fine figures of 3/12. Fellow all-rounder Tahlia McGrath continued her sensational series with 3/4. Left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen picked up the key wickets of Nat Sciver and captain Knight as the fight shown in the fantastic solitary Test was beaten out of the English.
Sophie Ecclestone’s unbeaten 32 dragged the visitors to a meagre 129, which was unlikely to alarm the Aussies. Anya Shrubsole and Kate Cross removed experienced batters Rachael Haynes and skipper Meg Lanning as they reduced the hosts to 18/2.
Sciver dismissed Alyssa Healey to leave Australia 49/3, but Perry struck a vital 40 off 64 balls and Ashleigh Garner’s quick-fire 31 not out secured victory with five wickets and almost 15 overs to spare.
Match-winner Perry said: "The last couple of weeks has been an amazing contest. It certainly hasn't been easy for our group. To win the Ashes with a game to spare is lovely. There were some really great performances today."
England all-rounder Sciver stressed: "We're looking ahead to the World Cup now and making sure we put things right before that and everyone taking responsibility for their role and what the team needs for them. Lessons learned."