Key posts
Crowd tonight expected to be around 10,000
It’s a really nice evening here in Sydney and having spoken to the ticket office, they were expecting around 10,000 spectators, hopefully there will be some walk ups too.
If Australia win tonight, they will retain the Ashes, as Monday evenings go, that is as good as it gets.
England have been boosted by the loss of two Australian stars in Ash Gardner and Alyssa Healy, and it really is now or never.
We are almost ready.
Beth Mooney of Australia warms up during game one of the Women’s Ashes T20 International series Credit: Getty Images
Phoebe Litchfield on the Next Gen of Australia’s cricket stars
Phoebe Litchfield will shuffle down for tonight’s T20 at the SCG and she tells Dan Walsh why she’s excited about the next generation of young cricketers coming through in the Australia set up here.
Tonight could also see Georgia Voll come into the lineup and what a better place to make your name than the SCG?
Phoebe Litchfield is looking forward to seeing Australia’s new stars stand upCredit: Getty Images for Cricket Australia
Who have you got tonight?
England decide to have a bowl and Georgia Voll comes in
England decide to bowl with captain Heather Knight keen to chase Australia.
Georgia Voll and Grace Harris comes into the side. There will be no Ash Gardner which is another big blow to the Australians, given they have no Alyssa Healy. Gardner has a low grade strain on her calf and is looking to return for the next Twenty20.
Australia: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Tahlia McGrath (c), Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
England: Maia Bouchier, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell
Kim Garth warms up at the SCGCredit: Getty Images
The brilliance of Alana King
The Twenty20 squads and form guide
Now let’s have a look at the Twenty20 squads to see how they are shaping up. England will not have opener Tammy Beaumont or the injured Helen Cross who were used just for the ODI squads.
Sarah Glenn will come into the lineup to provide a further spin option alongside Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone.
For Australia, as mentioned earlier, Alyssa Healy is not available due to a foot injury that could possibly keep her out of the rest of the Ashes Series.
Australia: Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
England: Heather Knight (c), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge
The form
Australia’s last defeat in Twenty20 was their shock World Cup semi-final defeat to South Africa last October. Before that, Australia had won 11 games on the trot.
England defeated World Cup runners-up South Africa 3-0 in November and have lost just three games in the format in 2024. Captain Heather Knight will be desperate for a response from her team.
Maia Bouchier of England warms up prior to game one of the Women’s Ashes T20 International series between Australia and England Credit: Getty Images
Australia lose Healy to foot injury
Hi and a very good evening, it’s Jonathan Drennan from a beautiful summer’s evening at the SCG to take you through the first Twenty20 of the women’s Ashes.
First, as you may have heard already, Australia captain Alyssa Healy is out for tonight’s game with Beth Mooney to put on the keeper’s gloves. This is the statement from Cricket Australia:
“Alyssa has developed mid-foot soreness on the same side as her previous plantar fascia injury following the ODI series. She is currently being managed in a boot and will not be available for this evening’s game. Cricket Australia’s medical team is consulting with specialists to develop an appropriate management plan over the coming days. Her availability for the remainder of the series will be assessed as more information becomes available.”
A big loss, but there is a golden chance for someone to step up in Healy’s absence, in terms of captaincy the bet is Tahlia McGrath.
First, a brief recap and what a series we have had so far. Australia have taken a 3-0 clean sweep, after wins in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart ODIs.
In Tasmania, in a game filled with strong performances from Australia, Ash Gardner perhaps shone brightest. With her team under huge pressure on 4-59 against an England team desperate to seal their first win, Gardner came in to deliver a compelling innings of 102, her highest ODI score ever. She also went on to produce a stunning catch on the boundary, more on that later.
Australia needs just two more points to retain the Ashes, while England will need to win all three T20Is and the day-night Test at the MCG to reclaim the trophy.
A relatively straightforward proposition in theory for the Aussies one might think, but England are typically stronger over 20 overs than 50. The England team have also been stung by criticism from their press pack at home and will be desperate to keep their series alive tonight in Sydney.
Georgia Wareham, Phoebe Litchfield and Alyssa Healy of Australia celebrate the wicket of Natalie Sciver-Brunt of England during game three of the Women’s Ashes ODICredit: Getty Images
