England and Australia thrilled cricket fans in Women’s Ashes Test

The more of these matches women’s cricket gets, the better, writes Ben Burrows

Heather Knight scored 168 not out in England’s fightback (PA Archive)

“Easily the best test match of women’s cricket history” was the verdict. Now comes the question of what it could mean for the game going forward.

England and Australia thrilled cricket fans on Sunday with a box office climax to their one-off Women’s Ashes Test, where a rollercoaster contest ended in a draw after a scarcely believable final day’s play.

Australian captain Meg Lanning set the scene for what was to come with an attacking declaration, pulling her side in just before tea on the fourth day and setting England 257 to win.

Faced with the biggest chase in women’s cricket history, England stood up to the challenge, started on the front foot and looked on course for a historic win when their positive approach left them needing only 45 from the final 10 overs.

But Australia’s team are the world’s best for a reason and fought back in fine style, claiming six wickets in short order to set up the dramatic denouement. England were left needing just 12 to win, but with just one wicket remaining and Australia eyeing a series win, Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone smartly opted for defence, kept the hosts at bay for the final 13 balls and secured a last-gasp draw.

It was a remarkable finish to a remarkable match and showcased just how far the women’s game has come in recent years. It also shone a light on what may be to come, with calls for matches to run to five days – as the men’s do – rather than the four days here, and for more matches to be scheduled, with the Test calendar for women still distressingly thin.

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This long-form thriller was the only one of the series with three one-day internationals instead set to decide the destination of the Ashes over the coming week.

The two sides couldn’t be separated on Sunday evening in Canberra, but one thing surely was decided – the more of these matches women’s cricket gets, the better.

Yours,

Ben Burrows

Sports editor