England Women's Cricket vs. Australia: Highlighting Key Players in Ashes Test

The summer of cricket threw up its latest instalment on Sunday: the women’s Ashes.

The first Test got underway with Australia straight into bat as they sought to defend their title. Six points are awarded for winning the Test with an extra two available for winning each of the three one day internationals and three Twenty20 matches to follow.

Let’s take a look at the potential match winners in the Ashes Test.

Meg Lanning (Australia)

When Australia welcomed England to their shores two and a half years ago, Lanning was one of the stars of the series. She hit a century in only her second ever One-Day International and consistently added runs in the other matches to became a key part of the Aussie setup.

She is set to play a lead role in this year’s Test and shouldered the responsibility of leading out her side’s attack by posting a credible first-innings 48 before falling to a cruel run out on Sunday.

At just 21 years old she is set for a massive future and looks destined to be Aussie captain one day.

 

Charlotte Edwards (England)

Edwards’ goal is simple: reclaim the Ashes. As captain she must motivate her side, correctly place the field and prove her worth by posting a decent total with the bat.  

She was the only Englishwoman to post a century Down Under in 2011 and will be even more determined to win given this series might mark the end of her international career at the age of 33.

After becoming the youngest woman to play for England seventeen years ago, she has gone onto smash teams for centuries, lead England to Ashes and World Cup success and earned an MBE for good measure.

Edwards has done it all already, but before she can allow herself to think about life’s next chapter, she must take back the Ashes.

Jenny Gunn (England)

A five-wicket haul against Pakistan in July handed Gunn a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the series.

The all-rounder is pivotal to England’s hopes of stealing back the Ashes as her contribution with bat and ball is world class when she's on form. In Australia she was England’s second-highest run scorer in the decisive Test, also taking two wickets, and if she can improve on that then her country have a great chance.

She offered her candid opinion ahead of the series, telling the BBC: "They [Australia] are in the same position as we were in 2009,” she said. “The Aussies came hard at us and that's what we're planning to do to them. We have a point to prove."  

And there's no better way of proving her point than scoring big and taking wickets.