The Women’s Ashes Records
The Women’s Ashes series, a prestigious cricket contest between England and Australia, has a rich history filled with thrilling performances and remarkable individual achievements. This article delves into some of the most significant records from this fierce rivalry, showcasing the extraordinary talent of female cricketers and the competitive spirit of this historic series.
Highest Innings Total
The record for the highest innings total in Women’s Ashes history is recently held by Australia. In 1998, during the traditional Test match format, Australia declared at an impressive 569/6 during their second innings at Guildford. This monumental score was bolstered by standout performances from Joanne Broadbent, who scored a glorious 200 runs off 476 balls, and Mel Jones, who contributed a solid 131 runs off 240 balls. The depth of batting in that innings was evident, as four players reached scores of 50 or more.
Fast forward to contemporary times, the highest total in the current multi-format series was recorded in the 2023 Test match, where Australia scored 473. Annabel Sutherland played a key role, notching up an impressive 137 not out. England put up a formidable response, scoring 463 runs, with Tammy Beaumont leading the charge and scoring a phenomenal 208 runs. This match not only highlighted the evolving nature of women’s cricket but also established a new benchmark for competitive standards.
Highest Match Aggregate
Not surprisingly, the match that set the ground for the highest innings totals also claims the title for the highest match aggregate in Women’s Ashes history. The respective innings of Australia and England resulted in a staggering total of 1,371 runs, making it one of only four matches to see the aggregate exceed 1,000 runs. The excitement of this contest reinforced the growing competitiveness and quality of the series, showcasing the exceptional talent that both teams possess.
Highest Win Margin
In the realm of win margins, Australia has showcased its dominance in the series. There have only been five victories by more than 100 runs, with Australia accounting for four of those notable triumphs. The highest win margin of 194 runs came during the ODI series in 2019 at Canterbury. Australia set a challenging target of 270 runs, then bowled out England for a mere 75 runs, thanks largely to the spectacular bowling display from Ellyse Perry, who took a record seven wickets during that match.
Although Australia’s record is impressive, England recorded their only 100+ victory in 1951 when they triumphed over Australia by 137 runs. Notably, there has not yet been a 10-wicket victory in the Women’s Ashes series, with the closest being a couple of 9-wicket victories, one claimed by England in 2014 and another by Australia in 2022.
Lowest Innings Total
Remarkably, the Women’s Ashes has also been host to some of the lowest innings totals in cricket history. In a test match held in 1958 in Melbourne, Australia was bowled out for a mere 38 runs, with Mary Duggan taking seven wickets. However, the match took an unexpected turn when England, believing they could capitalize on this, ended up scoring even lower—just 35 runs—making it the lowest-ever total in Women’s Ashes history, with Betty Wilson achieving seven wickets for Australia.
Many of the lowest scores in this series belong to its early years, with Australia posting 47 runs in 1934 and England contributing just 72 runs in 1949.
Lowest Match Aggregate
There have been only three matches in Women’s Ashes history where the total aggregate fell below 200 runs. The lowest of these came in 2013 during a T20 match at Chester-le-Street, where Australia was bowled out for 91 runs, and England chased it down with a score of 92, resulting in an aggregate of just 183 runs.
Other low aggregate matches occurred in 2015 and 2014, where the totals reached 194 and 197 runs respectively. These matches serve as a reminder of the challenges faced in limited-over formats, where wickets can tumble quickly.
Lowest Win Margin
With cricket’s unpredictable nature, it comes as no surprise that some of the most thrilling Women’s Ashes encounters have concluded with narrow victory margins. Three matches have seen victory margins of five runs or fewer, with the two lowest—both by three runs—occurring in 2023.
In the second T20 at The Oval, England set Australia a target of 187 runs, only to win the match by bowling Australia out for 183. Just eleven days later, during the second ODI, Australia once again found themselves in a close contest, setting a target of 283 that left England narrowly short at 279. These nail-biting finishes demonstrate the unpredictable and thrilling nature of cricket, particularly in such a competitive series.
Conclusion
The Women’s Ashes series continues to be a hotbed of thrilling cricket, with records that reflect the incredible prowess of female cricketers. From remarkable individual performances to nail-biting finishes, the series not only entertains but also inspires future generations of women in sports. As the competition evolves, fans eagerly anticipate the new records that the next generation of cricketers will undoubtedly establish.
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