Australia retained the Ashes despite losing the ODI and the T20I series, finishing the series with the points all square on eight apiece.
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Several individual performers stood out during the series, not all of whom make this side. Honourable mentions go to Heather Knight for her innings at Bristol which got England over the line in the first ODI, as well as her half-century at Taunton. Georgia Wareham’s final-over assault in Southampton arguably sealed Australia’s Ashes retention, and Jess Jonassen finishes the series as Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker.
However, a number of truly exceptional performances, and consistent impact players throughout the series, make up the final XI.
Tammy Beaumont
Beaumont started the series by making history. At Trent Bridge, she became the first woman to make a Test match double-century for England, making the fifth-highest Test score (208) of all time. Despite calls to bring her back into the T20I fold ultimately being in vain, she picked up where she left off in the ODI series. Her biggest contribution to England’s ODI series win was the aggression she showed at the top of the order. A 47 and a 60 in the first two ODIs gave England a solid platform on which they went onto post big scores.
Beth Mooney
Australia’s most consistent performer, Mooney finishes the series as their leading run-scorer. Her best innings was an unbeaten 61 at Edgbaston which anchored a tight run chase and saw Australia home. In hindsight of how close the series went onto be, that stands out as a crucial moment. She also scored 85 in the second innings of the Test match and 81* in the first ODI. A true all-format performer.
Ellyse Perry
Perry started the series out for an agonizing 99. She went on to pass fifty three more times, supporting what was at times an unstable opening partnership in the white ball series’. The 91 she scored at Southampton put Australia in a place to kick on in the final few overs. Her 53 was the top score in Australia’s collapse in the final ODI in Taunton.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
England’s vice-captain was having a quiet series right up until its close. She scored a quick-fire 78 in the first innings of the Test but was out to a questionable shot in the second. But, her final two innings were her at her best. The century she scored in a losing cause at Southampton came so close to seeing England over the line, while at Taunton she paced her innings perfectly to stabalise after losing both openers early, and accelerate through to the end.
Ash Gardner
Gardner was nothing short of sensational in this series. That she’s far and away Australia’s leading wicket-taker, even if you took out the 12 she took in the Test match, shows how much Australia have relied on her with the ball. She didn’t quite find her stride with the bat, but put in some important contributions across the series. Without her leading the attack, Australia quite simply would not have got anywhere near Ashes retention.
Danni Wyatt
After ten years of playing international cricket, Wyatt was finally given a maiden Test call-up. She scored a fifty as wickets tumbled around her on the final day, showing that if England had shown application they could well have chased the runs. In the white-ball series, she acted as England’s lower-order blaster to great effect. The 76 she scored at the Kia Oval was her standout innings, which helped England post 186, a total beyond Australia’s reach.
Annabel Sutherland
A Test century was the fairy-tale start to the series for 21-year-old Sutherland. She wasn’t able to replicate that level of performance during the rest of the series but scored an important half-century at Southampton. With the ball, she struggled to take wickets but was effective in drying up and end at crucial times to halt England’s advances.
Amy Jones (wk)
Jones will be a contentious name in this side. She made 40* at Edgbaston and an important 37 at Southampton before getting out to a reckless shot. The modes of Jones’s dismissals have been the most frustrating about her series, and her record against Australia in all formats is now especially worrying. However, this team needs a keeper, and she was exceptional behind the stumps. Two fast stumpings at Taunton and several sensational catches in the series give her the edge with the gloves over Healy. In Healy’s defence, a direct comparison does seem mean given her broken fingers.
Sophie Ecclestone
As ever, Ecclestone makes up the best XI of a series she has been part of. She was exceptional at Trent Bridge, where she bowled more than 77 overs to take a ten-for. Ecclestone’s exceptionality has become her norm, with no absolute standout performances throughout the series despite her threat never wavering. There were also 22 crucial runs from her at The Kia Oval off 12 balls.
Kate Cross
Despite not featuring in the T20I series, Cross has slotted into her role as England’s senior seamer well. Alongside a much younger cohort of pacers, she bowled some absolute beauties in the series, her best performance saved until last as she ran through Australia’s top order at Taunton.
Lauren Bell
Bell has been a revelation for England ever since she burst onto the international scene last year. She played in every game this series, and made picking up wickets early in Australia’s innings her speciality. There are few who can get quite as much swing on a new white ball as she can, her height making her a double-threat. Among the new generation of England pacers, she’s leading the pack by a fair way.
