England's torrid Women's Ashes campaign continues as they drop SEVEN catches on day two of Test to leave Australia on brink of 16-0 clean sweep
England's torrid Women's Ashes campaign continues as they drop SEVEN catches on day two of Test to leave Australia on brink of 16-0 clean sweep
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England's chances of avoiding an Ashes whitewash literally slipped through their fingers yesterday as seven dropped catches allowed Australia to pile up a 252-run lead in Melbourne. It now appears inevitable that Heather Knight’s team will return home on the back of 16-0 drubbing after the Australians closed day two of the floodlight Test at the MCG on 422 for five. Annabel Sutherland made history as the first woman to score a Test hundred at the iconic ground - at the age of 23, she also equated the record of three for most hundreds by an Australian - with 163 from 258 balls, after being promoted due to Ellyse Perry’s hip injury.
![[Heather Knight's team dropped seven catches as they continue to be plagued by fielding issues]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/31/15/94730925-14346467-image-a-186_1738338439937.jpg)
Yet it was more about English profligacy than Australian proficiency after the tourists’ bowlers did enough to dismiss their opponents, creating plenty of opportunities, only for the ball to find its way onto the turf rather than securely into hands. Twice early on left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone could have been celebrating Sutherland’s wicket: she had just 29 to her name when she spooned a straightforward chance to Danni Wyatt-Hodge at point and then found the centurion’s edge with a classical turning delivery soon afterwards that struck wicketkeeper Amy Jones on the knee.
![[Annabel Sutherland became the worst woman to score a Test century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia closed on 422 for five]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/31/15/94730903-14346467-image-a-187_1738338497068.jpg)
England had Australia three down with the scores level - after they posted a sorry 170 all out on day one - but worse was to come. England's dismal start to the Women's Ashes continued on day two of the Test in Melbourne. Heather Knight's team dropped seven catches as they continue to be plagued by fielding issues. Annabel Sutherland became the worst woman to score a Test century at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as Australia closed on 422 for five.
England’s BIG chances dropped today 🙈 pic.twitter.com/wk5TMUo9CP. Sutherland then shared a 154-run stand with Beth Mooney, who was given three lives in getting to 18 - Ryana MacDonald-Gay and Ecclestone at slip (twice) the culprits. The worst drop of the day was to follow when a steer to gully from Mooney thudded into Maia Bouchier’s chest and just before the close Lauren Filer fumbled a low return catch offered by Tahlia McGrath.
