Expectations peak and clutch moments inch towards our neck with the added pressure of delivering on the big stage. The fate of hard work and toil rests on those milliseconds which dictate as to which side the tide will turn. Muscle memory remains a prominent part that drives the players to get things done on game day, but cricket gleams with uncertainty, and the fine line between success and failure can also be accounted as the game played by one’s fortune.
Today we’ll revisit some of the underperformers of the iconic Trent Bridge Women’s Ashes test where players were left gutted.
1. Jess Jonassen (AUS)
On a batting-friendly surface that saw batters breach their level best and step up to the occasion with spectacular shots and immaculate survival instincts, Jonassen could not get the best out of her abilities. With 11(30) in the first innings and 14(27) in the second, she fell prey to Ecclestone’s class. The 30-year-old forms the core of the middle order for the Southern Stars, the team revolves around her abilities in the middle overs to rotate the strike well and stay on course. The pitch, however, had enough grip in it to stop and turn which restricted Jonassen’s score and inflicted damage.
2. Alana King (AUS)
On a surface that had enough on offer for the slower bowlers, Alana failed to have the X-factor as the opponents negated all possible threats and turned her quota of overs into a steady run fiesta. In the first innings, she conceded 61 runs off her 15 overs at an economy of 4.06 easing the run flow for the English batters. The lines she hit were slightly off trajectory enabling the willow to emerge victorious over the dukes.
3. Sophia Dunkley (ENG)
The flamboyant right-handed batter, who has got a ton of runs across the globe, could not live up to her sumptuous class in clutch moments. With 9 (51) in the first innings and 16 (39) in the second, she had played enough deliveries to assess the conditions on offer but failed to capitalize on it. She added to Gardner’s match haul and was Garth’s lone wicket.
4. Emma Lamb (ENG)
Another upset on the England batting front was Lamb, who let Australia gain momentum at the beginning of both innings as she fell prey within the first hour of play. With 10 (32) and 28 (40) in the match, she remains another batter who failed to capitalize on the starts. The play of Australian pace batteries had her struggling with the quick deliveries which kept the 25-year-old in constant uncertainty.