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. Eng 29-2

    Nat Sciver-Brunt is still getting her bearings out in the middle but gets two with a nice push down the ground.

    Annabel Sutherland got a hand on it and that probably saves a run or two.

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

    SutherlandGetty Images

    It will be interesting to see what happens to the ball here. In men's cricket it starts to swing and move around a bit but we haven't seen as much pink ball in women's cricket.

  3. Eng 26-2

    All valid points, Roberto, and England's start hasn't exactly made your prediction look all that unreasonable.

    Just one from Darcie Brown's latest - an overcooked bouncer that goes high over Nat Sciver-Brunt head and is called wide.

  4. Get Involved

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

    Roberto Colombi: In defence of my two-day prediction, Sam, I did factor in the no rain predicted forecast and England’s suspect technique against spin (and the Aussies wanting to total humiliate England).

  5. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    BeaumontGetty Images

    Tammy Beaumont has the tendency of getting caught in front of the wicket more often than other batters. Across all women's Internationals, she's been dismissed lbw on 45 occasions.

    Only Charlotte Edwards (61) has more lbw dismissals than Beaumont in women's internationals.

  6. Eng 25-2

    Annabel Sutherland gets a good reception from the crowd at the MCG as she comes on for her first over.

    It's a good one with just a couple of singles from it before the seamer gets one to nip and square up Heather Knight to finish.

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

    KnightGetty Images

    Australia are on top here as they have been in a lot of games this series. Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt need to bat for a while.

  8. Eng 23-2

    Nat Sciver-Brunt is in at four for England and gets through five challenging deliveries from Darcie Brown.

    The tourists' vice-captain dangles her bat at the last ball of the over and will be relieved not to get a nick on it.

    This is a big partnership for England, who find themselves in trouble already.

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

    It's where Tammy Beaumont can be vulnerable, she showed that early on here today but it's well bowled from Darcy Brown.

    England are in trouble already.

  10. wicket

    WICKET

    Beaumont lbw b Brown 8 (Eng 23-2)

    Tammy Beaumont is pinned in front!

    The England opener is an lbw candidate early in her innings and she is caught on the crease this time by Darcie Brown.

    Front leg planted, the ball angling in towards the stumps and then a touch of movement back off seam as well.

    Plumb and, after a discussion with Heather Knight, Beaumont walks off without reviewing. Good decision, it was crashing into middle and leg.

  11. Eng 23-1

    Kim Garth is back on it as the over goes on.

    She gets a couple to shape back nicely to Heather Knight and the England right-hander has to be watchful.

    Miss those and she would be plumb lbw.

  12. Eng 23-1

    Top shot!

    Heather Knight drives handsomely through cover point for her first boundary.

    It was a half-volley from Kim Garth - a rare bad delivery from her - but superbly put away by the England skipper.

  13. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    Having to change gears between formats is part of the excitement of a multi-format series.

  14. Eng 19-1

    Two quick singles start the over before Darcie Brown attempts the first bouncer of the innings.

    It rather balloons and Tammy Beaumont just watches it go by wide of off.

    There doesn't seem to be too much in the pitch to unduly concern England at the moment, they just need bat sensibly.

  15. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on TNT Sports

    The intent from England is really important. It's not just the intent to hit boundaries but to rotate the strike as well.

    You saw with Beth Mooney there was power hitting but running hard between the wickets as well which put the fielders under pressure. That imposes yourself on the game.

    When you look at the two teams, Australia stand tall with shoulders pushed back saying 'we're going to take you on'.

    Whereas England at times looked timid and clearly when you're 12-0 down it's quite hard to puff your chest out. But they are going to have to do that here.

  16. Eng 17-1

    Beaumont 7, Knight 7

    Maiden over from Kim Garth.

    The Australia seamer has been on the money so far in this opening session and gives Heather Knight nothing to work with in the over.

    Four balls on a good line and two so wide that Knight is not going to bother chasing them.

  17. Henry Moeran
    Test Match Special commentator

    WicketGetty Images

    Not the start that England were hoping for but it was a predictable one.

  18. Eng 17-1

    Beaumont 7, Knight 7

    Now England have their first boundary of the innings.

    It's a thick outside edge from Tammy Beaumont but the ball goes all along the ground, between the slips and gully, down to the rope at deep third.

  19. How's stat?!

    Srinivas Vijaykumar
    Cricviz analyst

    Kim Garth has now dismissed Maia Bouchier on three occasions in three innings in this Ashes series - two dismissals caught by the wicketkeeper and one at backward point.

    Maia Bouchier v Kim Garth in this series:

    • Three innings
    • Three dismissals
    • Seven runs
    • 19 balls

  20. Eng 10-1

    Come on, Roberto, it's not been an ideal start to the match for England - and, yes, the series has been tough in the extreme - but bad enough to already be predicting a two-dayer?

    Anyway, Kim Garth gets through another good over.

    After a tight leave first up, Heather Knight clips nicely through the leg side but an excellent diving stop from Darcie Brown denies the England skipper the first boundary of the match.