It hasn’t been the smoothest build-up to an Ashes series for the Australia camp as they look to retain the title on English soil this summer. The Aussies have an excellent record in this series but they must overcome an unsettled run-up to the Ashes this time around.
Lanning Absence Rocks Australia
Injury has meant skipper Meg Lanning will play no part in the series, which gets underway with the one and only Test match at Trent Bridge on June 22. The women’s series schedule will coincide with the men’s competition, which has England as the +110 favorites in the Ashes odds.
The England men’s team has not won an Ashes series since 2015 after they managed a 3-2 win over Australia, and a victory by the same margin this summer is available at +500 in the cricket odds. England’s women have had to wait even longer for their last Ashes success over their rivals, as they have not beaten the Baggy Greens since coming out on top 10-8 in the 2013/14 series in Australia.
The Aussie camp has been shaken by the loss of Lanning, who has been such an influential figure in the dressing room over the years. Australia boss Shelley Nitschke has admitted the squad was “rattled” by the news of Lanning’s absence for the series and it will be up to the head coach to try and settle the troops before the opening clash against the English in Nottingham.
Healy Tasked With Steadying The Ship
Alyssa Healy has been given the task of captaining the side for the highly-anticipated series against England this summer. The 33-year-old has a wealth of experience under her belt and was captain during Australia’s T20I tour of India last year. Lanning took a break from cricket ahead of that tour in India, which proved to be a success for the Aussies with Healy as stand-in skipper and Tahlia McGrath working alongside her as vice-captain. That experience of captaining away from home should certainly stand Healy in good stead for the challenges to come on English soil.
Wicket-keeper batter Healy has admitted it was a “rough couple of days” after the news of Lanning’s injury broke but she has come to terms with it and is ready to lead from the front. Australia should be confident going into this series, having won the last two Ashes by a score of 12-4. In the current format with just one Test played, there has been little to choose from between the two sides. The Test has been drawn in five of the last six series, with Australia winning the match on English soil back in 2015. Healy will be hoping for a similar result this time as Trent Bridge hosts the Test match this year.
It has been far from the ideal preparation for Australia’s women leading into the series but with Healy at the helm they will still be confident of continuing their domination over England this summer.
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