England Women vs Australia Women, Women's Ashes 2019, Today Match Prediction 18 Jul 2019

engw vs ausw Match Prediction & Analysis

Host England will be ready to take early advantage against Australia as they clash in the one-off Test of Women’s Ashes series starting from Thursday in Taunton

Coming into this one-off Test, the home side will need to raise their game with bat and ball if they are complete with Australia. Captain Heather Knight will need to lead from the front and put in an improved performance with bat and ball.

On the other hand, Captain Meg Lanning will be hoping that the side maintains their winning streak over England in this one-off Test. The visitors will not make any changes for this game and go with the same winning combination used in the one-day series. The previous meeting between the two teams in an Ashes Test ended in a draw at Sydney Cricket Ground.

TEAMS PREVIEW

England Women Preview

For England, things looked far from settled at the moment as the side lost all their one-day games to Australia. The top-order consisting of Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight struggled to produce big scores in the one-day series 

In the batting department, the team will be relying on opening batsman Tammy Beaumont, Captain Heather Knight and wicket-keeper batsman Sarah Taylor to provide stability from the top. Whereas in the lower department, presence of reliable all-rounder Natalie Sciver and Danielle Wyatt will certainly give England value with bat and ball.

Heather Knight will need to spend time at the crease to rediscover her mojo with the bat. She played exceedingly well for England in their previous Ashes Test played at Sydney Cricket Ground in 2017. Knight will be looking to produce a notable score for the side in this one-off Test.

Besides Knight, Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver are the most experienced players in the batting department. The duo will need to produce decent scores in this Test in order for England to compete against Australia at Taunton. Fran Wilson and Lauren Winfield have also delivered decent scores in the warm-up game played against Australia. The duo could come into the playing XI for this one-off Test against Australia.

In the bowling department, veteran pace duo of Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole will share the responsibility of leading the attack, and they will be supported by spinners Laura Marsh and Sophie Ecclestone. 

England Women Predicted Playing XI:

Heather Knight (captain), Lauren Winfield, Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor (wk), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones, Anya Shrubsole, Laura Marsh, Sophie Ecclestone, Katherine Brunt, Fran Wilson.

England Women Actual Playing XI:

Kirstie Gordon, Georgia Elwiss, Sophie Ecclestone, Amy Ellen Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Laura Marsh, Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Katherine Brunt, Sarah Taylor

Australia Women Preview

Meg Lanning-led unit will be looking to continue their winning momentum against England in this one-off Test. The visitors delivered a clinical performance with bat and ball to complete a clean sweep over England in the recently concluded three-match one-day series. For this one-off Test, bowling all-rounder Sophie Molineux was added to the squad. She certainly delivered with the bat and ball to push her case for selection for this game.

Despite one or two changes, Australia women will be depending heavily on Captain Meg Lanning and all-rounder Ellyse Perry in the batting department.  Perry has produced excellent numbers in the Test format and has scored 432 runs in 7 matches at an average of 61.71. She also delivered a splendid hundred in the second innings for Australia in the warm-up game played against England Academy Women at Marlborough.

The opening pair of Alyssa Healy and Nicole Bolton also got some runs in the warm-up game played against England Academy women. Wicket-keeper Alyssa Healy will be looking to make an impact with the bat for Australia in this one-off Test.

Rachel Haynes and Beth Mooney delivered notable scores for the side in the warm-up game. Mooney smashed a splendid 101 off 138 balls with the help of 15 boundaries. Haynes also showed guts and determination to score 47 off 127 balls. Sophie Molineux also chipped in with 60-odd runs to see Australia declare their innings at 360 for 5 after 83.4 overs. She certainly delivered with the ball as well and picked up four wickets in the second innings to see Australia women complete an emphatic 240-run win in the warm-up game.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Megan Schutt, Taya Vlaeminck and Ellyse Perry to make early inroads with the new ball. Pace bowler Taya Vlaeminck also delivered impressive spells for Australia in the warm-up game played against England Academy women. Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham will fight it out for a place in the playing XI for this one-off Test.

Australia Women Predicted Playing XI:

Meg Lanning (captain), Alyssa Healy (wk), Nicole Bolton, Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Beth Mooney, Sophie Molineux, Ashleigh Gardner/Georgia Wareham, Taya Vlaeminck, Megan Schutt, Jess Jonassen/ Delissa Kimmince.

Australia Women Actual Playing XI:

Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Megan Schutt, Ellyse Perry, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux, Nicole Bolton, Tayla Vlaeminck, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy

Weather Conditions

The pitch is expected to assist the pacers with the new-ball, whereas the weather is expected to stay fine for most of the match. 

Venue

The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton will host the one-off Ashes Test between England and Australia. England doesn’t have a great record at this venue and lost their last match to India in 2006. Australia will be looking to continue their unbeaten streak on this tour.

Toss: To Bat

The side that the wins the toss would be looking to bat first and put runs on the board. It is not going to be easy batting last on this wicket.