England 170-3; Australia 170-1; Australia win by nine wicketsLanning and McGrath dominate
England attack in AdelaideIt’s not every day that you drop Ellyse Perry from your starting XI, but sometimes the big calls pay off. 20 January 2022 will go down as the day of the changing of the guard, for it was Tahlia McGrath – the 26-year-old all-rounder who has displaced Perry in the
Australian lineup – who guided her side to a nine-wicket victory in the opening encounter of the Women’s Ashes.
This time last year, McGrath was in the international wilderness, having made only one appearance for Australia since 2017. But three months after being named player of the series in Australia’s win against
India, on Thursday she cemented her status as one of the world’s premier all-rounders, with an unbeaten 91 off 49 balls and a return of three for 26 with the ball. Ellyse who?