Women’s Ashes: England close in on success as Australia capitalize on known flaws | Cricket news

England’s hopes of reclaiming the Women’s Ashes are already on the brink of a critical stage.

Tuesday’s 21-run defeat in Melbourne was seen as a missed opportunity as Heather Knight’s side failed in their pursuit of 181 to slump to back-to-back ODI defeats.

It saw Australia establish a 4-0 lead in the multi-format series, meaning England must win at least three of the remaining four white-ball clashes to retain any hope of winning The Ashes ahead of the series-ending Test match.

‘Clumsy’ England can’t handle the pressure

This was England’s moment to make a statement of intent, but when the chance to level the series came knocking, the magnitude of what could have been achieved, as it often does against Australia, crippled the tourists.

Brilliance with the ball – Sophie Ecclestone 4-35 and Alice Capsey 3-22 – was tempered by a series of poor moments in the field, yet despite losing catches, England still managed to dismiss Australia for 180 and set a more-than-haunting target for victory.

England recovered to 69-2 after the dismissals of openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier, but in a carbon copy of their defeat in the first ODI, a middle-order collapse accompanied by poor shot selection and a misjudgment of running between the wickets saw them needlessly give up wicket after wicket .

“England were clumsy, they weren’t terribly cricket-savvy,” he said Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain. “They made some mistakes and if you’re going to beat Australia, you can’t afford that.”

Australia is simply stronger

England’s latest bid to win back The Ashes for the first time since 2014 was to be different. Two games into the series, however, a familiar story unfolds.

Knight’s side already have a sizeable mountain to climb under, with the first two ODIs serving as a reminder to former England captain Hussain that Australia remains the dominant force in women’s cricket.

“Australia looks stronger,” he said. “England are back in The Ashes for the last time [to draw 8-8 at home in 2023]but they have a mountain to climb far from home.

“Why do they look stronger? Well, they have been stronger in world cricket for a long time. I know they had a bad T20 World Cup in the UAE but, overall, they look a stronger side.

“There is so much depth within the side. You look at the middle order, who haven’t really fired and played their best yet, they have Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath.

“Outside you’ve also got young Georgia Voll who can’t come in. There’s so much strength in the depth of their squad and their cricket.

“I always feel there’s not that depth with England yet. If Nat Sciver-Brunt fires up, if Sophie Ecclestone fires up, they’ve got a good chance.”

Win or lose for England

With teams earning two points for winning white-ball matches, England have little room to manoeuvre.

As the seeds coming into the series, two more Australian wins would take them to eight points, enough to retain The Ashes regardless of England.

Another win for Australia would leave England walking the tightrope for their remaining white-ball matches before they get a chance to compete for the four Test match points on offer.

The fast-paced nature of the 2025 Women’s Ashes means England are approaching now-or-never territory, with wins the currency they need to keep their dreams alive.

‘Last time there were six of us’ – said Capsey defiantly

England fought back 6-0 in a drawn-out Women’s Ashes 2023 and it is that all-round spirit that Capsey is looking to channel ahead of the third and final ODI in Hobart.

“Four of us down, but last time there were six of us,” Capsey said. “We still have a lot of time to regroup and become better.

“This is not the best start to our campaign, but at the same time we have shown briefly what we can do so far.

“All it took was one partnership to get us over the line, but we couldn’t do that.”

Women’s Ashes 2025 schedule

All dates and times UK and Ireland

• First ODI: Saturday, January 11 – North Sydney Oval – Australia won by four wickets
• Other ODIs: Monday 13 January – Junction Oval, Melbourne – Australia won by 21 runs
• Third ODI: 23.05, Thursday, January 16 – Ninja Stadium, Hobart
• First T20I: 8.40am Monday 20th January – Sydney Cricket Ground
• Second T20I: 8.40am Thursday 23 January – Manuka Oval, Canberra
• Third T20I: 8.10am Saturday January 25 – Adelaide Oval
• Test: 3.30am Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February – MCG, Melbourne