Perfect Perry tunes up for Ashes with timely ton

Just five days after collecting the best-ever ODI bowling figures by an Australian woman, Ellyse Perry has issued a timely reminder of her prowess with the bat in the red-ball game.

Less than a week before the start of the sole Test of the women’s Ashes in Taunton, Perry compiled an unbeaten century in a warm-up game against England’s second side, rarely looking anything less than perfectly composed at the crease.

She ended the warm-up’s second day on 101 not out, Australia holding a lead of 400 runs over the locals with one day to play.

SCORECARD: England v Australia A

A declaration may prevent her going even bigger come Saturday, but that’s unlikely to bother Perry, who will already be eyeing her biennial opportunity to don the whites and spend as much time as she possibly can in the middle.

The last time Perry batted in a Test was in November 2017, when she struck a stunning unbeaten 213, eclipsing Karen Rolton’s previous record Test score for an Australian woman.

It was going to take something miraculous to prise her from the crease in that game at North Sydney Oval – at least until her skipper called her in – and if Friday’s performance is anything to go by, there could be more of the same to come at Taunton’s County Ground next week.

The fact they play just one Test every two years is the key challenge facing both Australia and England ahead of that match.

With that in mind, a somewhat more sedate version of their aggressive ODI approach is the tact Australia are taking and Perry’s innings on Friday was a prime example.

For young quick and teammate Tayla Vlaeminck – who spent the morning putting forward a strong case for a Test debut as she rattled the English bowlers with her speed and bagged four wickets in the process – it was a matter of sitting back and simply taking in the clinic put on by Perry on Friday, who brought up triple figures in 148 deliveries shortly before stumps.

"We still want to play aggressively, but you can take your time a little bit more and Pez showed that really nicely," Vlaeminck said after play.

"She played some really well-timed shots and she still was able to do that but was also able to keep the good ones out as well, which is Test cricket batting.

"Her technique is pretty incredible, it would take a few good balls to get back her."

Perry was the second Australian to score a century in the three-day warm-up, after Beth Mooney’s superb 101no in the first innings.

There was crucial time at the crease for a number of Australia’s middle-order – Rachael Haynes retiring on 47 in the first innings before Sophie Molineux hit a speedy 62-ball 67, while Jess Jonassen (44) joined Perry in a 120-run stand in the second dig. Openers Nicole Bolton (41) and Alyssa Healy (33) both made starts in the first innings before departing cheaply in the second, both dismissed for six.

The only batters to miss out in both innings were captain Meg Lanning (14 and 16) and Ashleigh Gardner (8 and 17) – a particularly big blow for the latter, who is one of three spin-bowling allrounders vying for a spot in Australia’s squad.

The Australian attack will have another chance to press their cases for selection if, as expected, the tourists declare early on Saturday.

"The pitch flattened out a bit today so made it a little bit harder … and I expect it’ll be harder again tomorrow, which will be a good challenge," Vlaeminck said

CommBank Ashes Tour of England

Australia lead England 6-0

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

England ODI squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt 

July 2: Australia won by two wickets

July 4: Australia won by four wickets

July 7:  Australia won by 194 runs

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins