No danger of defensive Aussies in Taunton Test

Ellyse Perry has declared Australia will continue their attacking approach as they look to extend their advantage in the women’s Ashes when the one-off Test begins on July 18. 

After winning all three ODIs, each worth two points, Australia now hold a 6-0 advantage in the multi-format, points-based series.

As the current holders of the Ashes, a draw in the Test at Taunton will be enough to retain the trophy, while England must win that match and all three T20Is that follow, if they are to reclaim the trophy.

But for Perry, with a chance to play a format that rolls around just once every two years, there’s no chance Australia will be content to take the two points on offer for a draw.

"I don't think so - it is in our culture and style to play aggressive cricket and we want to do that no matter what the situation," Perry said after Australia wrapped up an emphatic 194-run win in the third ODI on Sunday. 

Currently, only Australia and England play Test matches, with one included in each multi-format Ashes series.

And Perry, desperate to play more red-ball cricket, can see the bigger picture – and potential impact on the future of the format – the match in Taunton could have.

"These Test matches come around once every couple of years and I think it is a big responsibility for all players to play it in a really great spirit and in a way that is entertaining, because I'd love to play more of them," she said.

"I think there is scope to play this kind of format series against some of the other top teams in the world.

"But to do that, we've got to do the Test match justice and I thought it was brilliant a couple of years ago at North Sydney and I think this time around it should be just as good."

In their last two Test encounters, England have found themselves in the position of having to bat to save the match – successfully in 2017, not so much in 2015.

This time, a draw won’t do, and England captain Heather Knight is aware of just how quickly her players will need to push aside their disappointment from the ODI leg of the series.

"Individually and as a team we need to have some honest conversations and work out what has gone wrong for us," Knight told Sky Sports. "But we can't feel sorry for ourselves.

"There is the Test match coming up and we need to re-start the series as we are still in it. There are four points to play for.

"We can't go into our shells, we can't be tentative, we have to be positive as a batting unit and I think the change of format will be good for us."

The Test gets underway at Taunton’s County Ground on July 18.

Before that, the Australians will play an England Academy team in a three-day warm-up in Swindon beginning Thursday.

And if you’re looking for Ellyse Perry between now and then, the nets will be a good place to start.

"I'll probably get to bat a bit more in the nets, which I'm licking my lips about," Perry said when asked how she’ll be preparing for the four-day Test match.

"The plans and tactics will probably be more drawn out (than in an ODI) and we've got more time on our hands, but it will be about playing the conditions in Taunton, which I don't really know what they are going to be like.

"If it takes a bit of spin I think there is probably a bit of prep around that to be done." 

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