England women close out victory

Isa Guha was the star as England retained the Ashes in Bowral, beating Australia in the only Test (and I say again: how ridiculous that they should play only once) by six wickets. Guha, the first Asian woman to play for England, took four for 60 in Australia's second innings, bringing her match tally to nine for 100. She may have become the fourth English woman to take a Test ten-for if Karen Rolton hadn't then declared Australia's innings on 231 for nine, setting England 142 to win.

Both sides have batted so slowly this match (an overall rate of 2.08 runs per over) that 142 in just over two sessions almost seemed daunting, but the deficit was down to 45 by tea thanks to Claire Taylor's second half-century of the match and it was appropriate that she was joined by Charlotte Edwards, the captain, with whom she had made 159 runs on the second day, for the final rites.

England's achievement is significant, considering that they had lost their head coach, Mark Dobson, their experienced wicketkeeper, Jane Smit, and their star all-rounder, Jenny Gunn, to various reasons as the tour had progressed. They won't get the MBEs and the open-top bus ride - they will barely get any column inches in tomorrow's papers - but they deserve applause from all England supporters. At the very least they are a shoo-in for nomination for Line and Length's Hero of the Month competition.

Comments

[Steve]

Congratulations to England women for showing the Dunkirk spirit - or whatever. I see Rolton now want the Ashes extended to three matches. Seems reasonable. perhaps as the men get more and more seduced by Twenty20 at the expense of Tests, the women can take over as the guardians of true cricket.

[Ann]

Well done!