England's battle to avoid a Women's Ashes whitewash began in disappointing fashion as they were rolled for 170 on day one of the pink-ball Test against Australia in Melbourne. Nat Sciver-Brunt top-scored with 51 from 129 balls but no other player passed 25 as England slumped against spin again, just as they had done during their ODI and T20 woes, with Alana King claiming 4-45 as she bowled 23 overs in a row from the Shane Warne End. Australia closed on 56-1 from 22 overs in reply to trail by 114 with Test debutant Georgia Voll (12) caught behind off Lauren Bell under the lights, leaving Phoebe Litchfield (20no) and Annabel Sutherland (24no) to take the hosts through to stumps at the MCG.
Score summary - Women's Ashes Test England 170 all out in 71.4 overs: Nat Sciver-Brunt (51 off 129), Heather Knight (25); Alana King (4-45), Kim Garth (2-13), Darcie Brown (2-47) Australia 56-1 from 22 overs: Annabel Sutherland (24no), Phoebe Litchfield (20no), Georgia Voll (12); Lauren Bell (1-21) England are 12-0 down on points after six straight white-ball defeats - they were skittled for just 90 in the final T20 - with Australia looking to become the first side to secure a 16-0 sweep since the Women's Ashes adopted the multi-format programme in 2013. Questions have been raised about the tourists' athleticism and ability to perform under pressure and also the futures of captain Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis.
Sciver-Brunt spoke about "blocking out the noise" and bounced back from .
