Isa Guha

Australia v England, only Ashes Test
Bradman Oval, Bowral
February 15-18, 2008

When England’s men regained the Ashes in 2005 for the first time since 1986/87, a whole generation of England fans saw their country win the Ashes for the first time; after what seemed like an eternity, the urn had come home.

During the fourth Test of the men’s series at Trent Bridge, 80 miles south-west in Worcester, the women’s side were creating their own piece of history. An extraordinary all-round performance from 20-year-old Katherine Brunt set up an England win that gave them their first Ashes series victory since 1963.

Two and a half years later, they were tasked with retaining the urn Down Under, something they hadn’t achieved since 1968/69. England hadn’t won a series outright in Australia since 1934/35. England men’s wait for Ashes success Down Under seemed like a mere intermission compared to what the women’s side had endured.

This time they were up against an Australian team with a slightly different look about them. The formidable pair of Belinda Clark and Cathryn Fitzpatrick were no longer around and there was new blood in the team in the form of a 17-year-old Ellyse Perry.

She so nearly repeated the trick in the second innings. With Australia trying to overturn a 90-run first innings deficit, she dismissed all of Australia’s top three with the new ball to leave them 34-3. She would have to settle with a four-for this time round but the damage was done.

Sthalekar’s 98 gave Australia a brief glimmer of hope before England chalked off their target of 142 to complete their first away Ashes win since 1934/35. “At the top of my run I felt that I could get a wicket every ball,” Guha would go on to say about her performance. “Every chance went to hand and I was in this heightened state where I didn’t have to think about anything. You can’t describe it. It was perfect.”