England’s disappointing Ashes tour concluded with a crushing innings-and-122-run defeat in the lone Test match, making them the first team to be whitewashed 16-0 in the history of the multi-format series after struggling against Australia’s spinners once again.
The defeat on day three of the pink-ball game at the MCG followed six consecutive losses in white-ball cricket, with England being swept in both the one-day international and T20 international series.
Heather Knight’s team showed promise earlier on Saturday in Melbourne, taking the final five Australian wickets for just nine runs to dismiss the hosts for 440 before reaching 79-1 in their second innings through Knight (32) and Tammy Beaumont (47).
However, after the skipper was caught at short leg off Ash Gardner (4-39) in the second session, England’s vulnerabilities against spin were exposed once again as they were bowled out for 148 in 68.4 overs.
Leg-spinner Alana King (5-53) took the final wicket of Lauren Filer (14 off 45) to claim her ninth wicket of the match and 23rd of the series.
The 29-year-old also dismissed Nat Sciver-Brunt (18) lbw and Sophia Dunkley (4) with a remarkable delivery that pitched outside leg stump and turned back to hit the off stump – a ball reminiscent of her idol, the late Shane Warne.
King then bowled Beaumont off an inside edge, with that wicket coming between off-spinner Gardner’s dismissals of Danni Wyatt-Hodge (2) and Amy Jones (6), who fell while attempting a sweep shot and edging behind, respectively.
England’s collapse of 5-17 left them at 117-7 during the dinner break, still behind by 157 runs, practically guaranteeing Australia’s victory with over a day to spare.
This came to fruition as Ryana MacDonald-Gay (1) hit a full toss from King to deep midwicket, Ecclestone (18) mistimed a shot off Gardner to mid-on, and Filer, after a resilient last-wicket partnership with Lauren Bell (0no off 30) lasting 48 deliveries, played a weak shot to the leg-side.
The England and Wales Cricket Board will conduct a comprehensive review of the disastrous tour, likely including discussions on the future of Knight and head coach Jon Lewis.
Mooney achieves historic feat for Australia before Ecclestone takes five wickets
Beth Mooney (106) became the first Australian to score a century in all three formats of women’s international cricket.
Mooney joins Knight, Beaumont, and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt in this achievement after registering three one-day international centuries and two T20I hundreds.
Beth Mooney is the first Australian – and fourth player overall – to score a century in all three formats of women’s international cricket
She was dismissed by England’s Lauren Filer (2-86) after scoring 106, as Australia were bowled out for 440, taking a commanding first-innings lead of 270.
Tahlia McGrath (12) and Kim Garth (0) gave away their wickets as Australia reached 422-5 – McGrath skied a catch to Ecclestone (5-143) and Garth edged a delivery from Filer.
Ecclestone, who dismissed McGrath for the seventh time in internationals, trapped King (3) lbw and then secured her third five-wicket haul in Tests, all against Australia, by dismissing Ellyse Perry (2) caught and bowled as Perry looked to play into the leg-side.
Perry was demoted to No 10 after suffering a hip injury and England dismissed Australia for 170 on the first day of play.
England’s Maia Bouchier’s poor performance in the multi-format series continued as she was bowled for one by Darcie Brown.
Bouchier managed only 46 runs across seven innings, with a highest score of 17 in the second ODI, followed by consecutive ducks in the ODI and T20I matches.
Knight and Beaumont then put on a 73-run partnership for England’s second wicket, with Knight starting off with a beautiful cover drive off Garth.
However, once the spinners came into play, the match ended swiftly, with Australia asserting their dominance as the top women’s team globally, completing the series sweep and ending England’s misery.
