Mooney locks in Test opening position with warm-up century
England A 135 for two (Scrivens 55*, Winfield-Hill 53*) path Australia 285 (Mooney 107, Dean 3-49) by 149 runs
Beth Mooney cemented her spot as Australia’s opener for the ladies’s Ashes Test after scoring a dominant century in opposition to England A.
Mooney scored 107 from 133 balls at Leicester on Thursday, as Australia had been all out for 284 and had their English rivals 2-135 in reply at stumps on day one.
With Meg Lanning out of the tour with sickness and Rachael Haynes having retired since their final red-ball match, Australia gave their strongest indication but of their line up for subsequent week’s Test in Nottingham.
Captain Alyssa Healy moved down the order to No. 5, after indicating final month she didn’t wish to shoulder the load of wicketkeeping and opening.
That prompted Phoebe Litchfield and Mooney to open, in a completely new-look mixture after Healy and Haynes opened in Australia’s final Test.
Litchfield fell for 19, however nonetheless appears to be like more likely to earn a Test debut on the prime of the order at Trent Bridge subsequent week.
Mooney, nonetheless, had no such hassle forward of the one-off Test in opposition to England that kicks off the multi-format collection. She was dominant sq. of the wicket and punished an England A assault that was typically too wayward.
Mooney has opened beforehand in Test cricket, however has historically batted at No. 3 or within the center order earlier than Haynes’ retirement. Her rating was the one Australian one above 40, as others fell to unfastened photographs round her.
“I seem to do that in warm-up games and not transfer that to the real thing,” Mooney stated. “Hopefully next week I can. The first few days in England it’s nice to hit a few off the middle.”
Kim Garth then pushed her case for a Test debut for Australia as she took 2 for twenty-four late within the day. Veteran seamer Megan Schutt was not used, with Australia more likely to depart her out of the Test assault and play former Irish worldwide Garth as an alternative.
“Kimmy G is a ripper, she has contributed hugely to this group off the field and it’s nice to see her getting some games on the field,” stated Mooney. She presents an actual risk to the England prime order, so it is good to see her get a pair on this sport.”