Summary

  • Australia reach 56-1 after tricky session under lights - report

  • England bowled out for 170

  • Sciver-Brunt (51) only batter to resist dominant hosts

  • King stars with the ball (4-45)

  • Brown (2-47) impresses with pace

  • One-off Test, Melbourne, day one of four

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham & Sam Drury

  1. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's been good from England, they've just been able to absorb that pressure. Compared to the first session, it's been nice and calm for England. There's been a few slipups but overall, they've been great.

  2. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Alana King hasn't looked overly threatening yet.

  3. Aus 95-3

    Ash Gardner continues but, whisper it quietly, things seem to getting easier for England.

    A nice shot from Sophia Dunkley to finish the over as she clinically thwacks the Aussie leggie down the ground for a much-needed boundary.

  4. Sarah Elliott
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    For me, Nat Sciver-Brunt is such a competitor. I look at her and think I know she's going to fight.

  5. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    Australian quicks have peppered Sophia Dunkley with a barrage of short balls today. In her career for England, Dunkley averages 25.9 facing deliveries shorter than 7m. When the bowlers go fuller than 5m, her average more than doubles to 53.2.

  6. Aus 88-3

    Darcie Brown has Nat Sciver-Brunt bobbing and weaving with more short stuff.

    The Aussie seamer strays down leg side with her third delivery and the England batter works it nicely square for three as Ellyse Perry flicks the ball back on the boundary edge.

    Final ball of the over and Sophia Dunkley picks up a streaky boundary off a short delivery as the ball flashes past Beth Mooney and away for four.

  7. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Roger: Watching England bat reminds me of trying to survive on the old concrete pitch at Avondale Park W11, school cricket. 10-11 years old.

  8. Eng 83-1

    Classic leg-spin bowling from Alana King.

    She's been pushing the ball through to Sophia Dunkley before tossing one up outside of off stump and the England batter takes the bait, unfurling a big booming drive.

    The ball fizzes away past her blade.

  9. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Darcie Brown has been brilliant today. She's bowled with such aggression.

  10. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    BrownGetty Images

    Darcie Brown has bowled quick and rushed the batters today. She's been one of the quickest Australian bowlers in recent times. In matches with ball-tracking data in our database, Darcie Brown has an average speed of 71 mph (114.3 kph).

    Of all Australian pace bowlers, only Tayla Vlaeminck (72.8 mph) has bowled quicker than Brown. Brown has induced a false shot off 18 of her 60 deliveries today, that's 30% of her deliveries. She's been rapid!

  11. Eng 78-3

    Darcie Brown nearly knocks Sophia Dunkley off her feet with another bumper. A maiden over.

    Dunkley has 12 off 56 balls. Gritty stuff from a batter you normally associate with more free-flowing strokeplay.

  12. Sarah Elliott
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    Sophia Dunkley is showing good patience here. I'm sure there's a part in her that just wants to take a big swing at some of these.

  13. Eng 78-3

    Sophia Dunkley sees off two regulation deliveries from Darcie Brown before the Aussie seamer bangs in the short ball. Dunkley sways out the way. She was expecting that one.

  14. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    England have found a bit of a rhythm now.

  15. Sarah Elliott
    Ex-Australia batter on BBC Sounds

    Nat Sciver-Brunt is looking pretty comfortable, it doesn't look like there's much in it.

    Australia are going to have to work hard to take some wickets.

  16. Aus 78-3

    Alana King whips her shades off to bowl. Not sure the reasoning behind that, unless the sun is reflecting.

    Nat Sciver-Brunt eases some of the pressure building by twice working the Aussie leg-spinner into the leg-side for a couple.

  17. Just a flying Alana King saving one run earlier. These Aussies give you nothing!

    Alana KingGetty Images

  18. Eng 74-3

    Good question, Roberto.

    Sophie Ecclestone is the second-highest wicket-taker in the series so she would get in...but after that, it's a bit of a struggle isn't it?

    Darcie Brown through another tight over. Just a single off it.

  19. Get Involved

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Roberto Colombi: There needs to be some serious stock taken after this series: some players are simply not good enough, some don’t have the right technique, some are not fit enough, dare I say some believe their own hype - how many could get in the Aussie team? One? Two?

  20. Eng 73-3

    A slip and short leg in place for Alana King.

    There's cries of 'catch it' after Nat Sciver-Brunt works one to leg. The ball was briefly in the air but lands safely enough for the England batter to pick up a single.