Arya News - At times in this Women’s Ashes series England could hold only themselves accountable – and after dropping eight catches on the second day of the Test, there can be few excuses for their performance.
Sophie Ecclestone shows her disappointment after dropping a catch - AFP/William West
At times in this Women’s Ashes series England could hold only themselves accountable – and after dropping eight catches on the second day of the Test, there can be few excuses for their performance.
Australia have undeniably been the better side throughout the series with their strength in depth, but the historic occasion at the Melbourne Cricket Ground only highlighted the gulf between the sides.
There is nowhere to hide in Test cricket, the days are long and any shortcomings are exposed, but the missed opportunities make a grim highlights reel for the visiting side, who have little chance of avoiding a 16-0 whitewash after the first two days of the Test.
Annabel Sutherland, who lived out a childhood dream in her home city by becoming the first woman to score a Test century at the MCG, was dropped twice on 29 and 31 on the way to her 163. Beth Mooney struck an attacking unbeaten 98, but was also put down three times before she reached 20.
Former Australian head coach Matthew Mott was blunt in his assessment as a TV pundit, saying before the tea interval: “The bowlers have been excellent today. It’s purely the fielders who have let them down and it could be a very, very different scoreline if they held on to half the chances that they’ve had.”
Ahead of the Test match, England released a video on Instagram of their slip catching, and their emphatic reactions to straightforward catches, but that preparation did not translate onto the field on the second day.
England’s poor catching was also combined with a wider sloppiness on the field, including missed long-barriers and times the ball went straight through a fielder, which just relieved any pressure built by the bowlers. The batters were in total control as Australia finished the day on 422 for five to build a lead of more than 250 on England’s first-innings total of 170 .
Telegraph Sport takes a closer look at the eight dropped catches shelled by England on the second day of their only Test match of 2025 at the MCG.
The incredible eight dropped catches
Annabel Sutherland 29* – Australia 63 for one
England still had a lead, albeit a slender one, when Sutherland was put down for the first time by one of England’s best fielders. The score was 63 for one and Sutherland went for the drive, hit it in the air and although the ball went low to Danni Wyatt-Hodge, it was definitely a catchable chance. Had she taken it, it could have had a significant impact on the match.
Sutherland 31* – Australia 71 for one
The second one of the day was arguably the most difficult of all the missed opportunities. Sutherland got a thick edge on a delivery from Sophie Ecclestone that crashed into the shins of wicketkeeper Amy Jones while she was standing up to the stumps. It goes down as a chance, but it would have been an exceptional take by a player widely regarded as the best wicketkeeper in the women’s game.
Beth Mooney 8* – Australia 184 for three
England had just broken the partnership between Alyssa Healy and Sutherland to bring Mooney to the crease. Having been the highest run-scorer in the series before the Test match, Mooney channelled her one-day form and went on the attack. But she offered a chance before she reached double figures, driving uppishly towards Ryana MacDonald-Gay, at cover, who could have done better.
Mooney 11* – Australia 191 for three
MacDonald-Gay was denied the wicket of Mooney in her first involvement of the series. Ecclestone got both hands to the ball at slip, which was at a very catchable height off the outside edge of a drive from Mooney. There can be few excuses offered for that one.
Mooney 18* – Australia 211 for three
As Australia raced ahead of England’s total, Mooney offered up a third chance, mistiming the cut shot straight to Maia Bouchier in a wide slip position. As one of England’s best fielders, she spilt the waist-high chance and Mooney went on to score an unbeaten 98 at close of play.
Ash Gardner 12* – Australia 347 for four
Ecclestone had two chances in the slips off the bowling of MacDonald-Gay, and put both down. Gardner was a crucial player for Australia during the 2023 Ashes, and England missed a key chance. The young seamer caught the edge of the bat and it went straight to Ecclestone without power, in arguably the worst drop of the day.
Gardner 36* – Australia 392 for four
Taking a catch in a follow-through is a difficult skill to master, but as one flew back to Lauren Filer, she had to readjust and change direction, only managing to get one hand to the ball, which spilt out. Filer was left face down on the turf as England toiled in the dust.
Tahlia McGrath 1* – Australia 408 for five
McGrath had just come to the crease when she drilled one into the covers and towards Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was caught on her heels slightly but managed to get fingertips to the ball. It was one of the hardest chances of the day, and a good parry.
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