As far as cricketing rivalries go, there aren’t many out there which can rival England’s rivalry with Australia.
Popularly known as the Ashes, it doesn’t matter whether it’s the men’s or women’s teams that are in action, the tension, hostility, and excitement are palpable for everyone.
There’s no doubting the fact that England and Australia are far ahead of their competitors, especially in the Test arena, which is why when these two sides faceoff the world sits up and takes notice.
Comfortably the top two Test teams in the women’s game today, these two sides have featured in some of the best and most thrilling international red-ball matches in the past.
These two women’s teams first contested a Test series way back in 1937. Since then, the two teams have squared off in nine series that had only Tests, and England as well as Australia have won two each with the remaining five ending in draws.
Overall, the two teams have met in more than fifty Tests and Australia has a slight edge in terms of wins in these encounters although a draw has been the predominant result in this red-ball fixture.
|
Matches |
England wins |
Australia wins |
Draw |
Tied |
|
51 |
9 |
12 |
30 |
0 |
Here, we have a closer look at all the interesting records and stats between England's and Australia’s women’s teams in Test match cricket.
England women vs Australia women Test records and stats
Highest team total
The highest Test team total in this fixture was made by Australia in the first encounter of the three-match series between the sides in 1998. Batting first, England had posted 414 on the scoreboard. However, Australia responded with a massive 569/6 declared in their first innings and it is the highest team total between these rivals in Tests. England went on to make 160/1 in their second innings as the match ended in a draw.
Lowest team total
The lowest team total in Tests between Australia and England was scored by the former in the final match of the three-game 1951 series. After England had scored 238 and 174/7 declared in both their innings and Australia managed 192 in their first innings, the team from down under had a target of 221 to chase in the final inning of the encounter. However, the Aussies scored only 83 before being all out and it is the lowest team total in the Test match history of this fixture. This win meant England drew the series 1-1.
Most runs
Former Australian batter Karen Rolton is the highest run-scorer in England versus Australia women’s Test match cricket. She scored 761 runs in eight matches at an average of 84.55 and a strike rate of 63.46. Her best score was an unbeaten 209 which she scored in the second Test of the 2001 series between the teams. Rolton’s knock helped the Aussies win the series 2-0.
Most wickets
Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick holds the record for most wickets in women’s Test matches between these two age-old rivals. In just seven games, she took 38 scalps at an average of 21.34 and an economy of 2.24.
Highest individual score
Karen Rolton’s unbeaten 209 in the second Test of the 2001 Test series featuring England and Australia is the highest individual score by a batter in the history of this fixture. After the Aussies had bundled out England for a mere 144, Rolton scored 209 not out to help Australia declare on 383/4. England scored 245 and was all out in their second innings as the Aussies made the seven required runs in their second innings to win the game as well as the two-match series 2-0.
Best bowling figures in an innings
Australia’s Ellyse Perry boasts the best bowling figures in an inning for this particular Test fixture. In the only Test of the 2015 series, Perry finished with figures of 6/32 as she dismantled England’s batting lineup in their second innings to bundle them out for 101 and set up a 161-run victory for the side from Down Under.
Best bowling figures in a match
The same game that saw Perry finish with the best bowling figure in an inning in the history of this fixture in Tests also witnessed her register the best bowling figures in a match. She finished with figures of 9/70 in the match as she had taken 3/38 in England’s first inning to go with her devastating 6/32 in the second.
Highest partnership
Australia women’s Lindsay Reeler and Denise Annetts’ 309-run stand for the third wicket is the highest partnership in the history of this fixture. It is the only 300-plus run partnership in Australia versus England Test and it took place in the 1987 series between the sides. Reeler and Annetts’ partnership helped Australia make 346/3 before they declared in what was a drawn game. Reeler finished on 110 not out while Annetts was run out after scoring 193.
Photo Credit: Alamy
