Australia's Women’s Cricket Team Sets Sights on Historic 16-0 Ashes Whitewash

Australia’s women’s cricket team has made a bold declaration to achieve an unprecedented 16-0 victory in the ongoing Women’s Ashes series against England. This ambitious goal not only reflects their dominance in international cricket but also underscores their determination to set new benchmarks in the sport.

A Strong Start to the Series

Australia began the multi-format series with a commanding performance, securing victories in both the Test match and the opening T20 games. After clinching a rain-affected win in the second T20 match in Canberra, the team has taken an unassailable 10-0 lead in the series. The win, determined by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, highlighted their adaptability under challenging weather conditions and reinforced their supremacy.

Grace Harris said - "We want to win 16-0 in this Ashes series and embarrass England". (BBC). pic.twitter.com/d2Txs93AFk

— i rishabh pant (@irishabhpant17) January 23, 2025

Multi-Format Series Structure

The Women’s Ashes series employs a points-based system, combining results from one Test match, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and three T20 Internationals (T20Is). With Australia already having secured the series victory, their focus remains on sweeping all remaining matches to complete a perfect scoreline of 16-0.

Grace Harris’s Ambitious Statement

Australian all-rounder Grace Harris epitomized the team’s confidence and competitive spirit with her bold comment: “I have thought about 16-0. We want to embarrass them, to be honest.” Her statement reflects the mindset of a team driven by high standards and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Harris’s remarks also underline the rivalry between the two teams, adding extra intensity to the remaining matches.

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Key Players and Performances

Australia’s batting lineup has been in sensational form throughout the series. In the second T20 match, Beth Mooney’s 44 runs set the tone, while Tahlia McGrath’s unbeaten 48 and Grace Harris’s not-out 35 propelled the team to a formidable total of 185-5. Despite England’s efforts, Australia’s disciplined bowling attack and sharp fielding ensured another victory.

England’s Challenges

England has faced a tough challenge against the reigning world champions. Despite some impressive individual performances, including contributions from captain Heather Knight and all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, England has struggled to match Australia’s consistency and depth. Nevertheless, the team remains determined to fight back in the remaining games to salvage pride and momentum.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that relying solely on pace won’t be enough for England to make history in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia. The next Ashes series, scheduled for the end of 2025, is already prompting England to prepare a competitive team for the historic challenge.

Ahead of the first Test against the West Indies, England captain Ben Stokes emphasized that the team is building with the future Ashes series in mind. England last secured the Ashes in 2015 with a thrilling 3-2 victory at home, but Australia has retained the trophy since then.

In Ashes series played in Australia, the home team has shown formidable dominance. England has not won a Test match in Australia since 2011, with recent series results being particularly disheartening: 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0 losses in their last three visits.

“Pace Isn’t Everything”, warns Nasser Hussain ahead of Ashes 2025

In his column for the Daily Mail, Hussain cautioned England that having sheer pace alone won’t be enough; skill must complement speed. He identified Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood as the two bowlers certain to make the trip to Australia.

“Pace alone isn’t enough,” Hussain wrote in his column. “If you go to Australia and just bowl fast without control, you’ll be easily taken apart. The key to success down under is a blend of pace and skill, as Gus Atkinson demonstrated in the first match of the series and Mark Wood showed here, even though he didn’t get the wickets he deserved. England can’t afford to rely on the same old strategies. It’s crucial to find solutions beforehand.”

“Pace alone isn’t enough. If you go to Australia and just rely on speed, you’ll end up all over the place. The key is combining pace with skill, as Gus Atkinson demonstrated in the first match of the series and as Mark Wood, despite not getting the wickets he deserved, showed here. England can’t afford to arrive in Australia with the same old approach; they need to find a solution in advance,” Hussain wrote in his column.

Gus Atkinson recently impressed in James Anderson’s farewell Test at Lord’s, where he claimed 12 wickets on his debut and was named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Mark Wood delivered a spectacular spell in the second Test but was unlucky not to secure any wickets. Both Atkinson and Wood, known for their high pace, could be crucial on the fast and bouncy pitches in Australia.

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Nasser Hussain commends Shoaib Bashir

Nasser Hussain also praised Shoaib Bashir for his outstanding off-spin performance on Day 4 of the Test.England’s choice of Shoaib Bashir reflects their strategy of balancing immediate needs with future prospects. Since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006, no spinner had taken a five-for in a Test at Nottingham. Bashir earned his accolades by demonstrating key qualities of an off-spinner—he extracted a beautiful drop on the ball to dismiss Alick Athanaze and bowled Jason Holder with a stunning delivery.

This performance will benefit him and the entire England bowling attack.England won the second Test against the West Indies by a commanding 241 runs. Despite West Indies initially taking a first-innings lead, England’s aggressive Bazball approach in their third innings allowed them to set a formidable target.

Chasing 385 for victory in the fourth innings, the West Indies faltered and were dismissed for just 143 runs. Shoaib Bashir took 5 wickets for England, while Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson each claimed 2 wickets.