Rain ruins England’s best efforts to all but wash away hopes of a result

Come to Australia, we’ve a chance at the Ashes, they said. Come to Australia, there’d be sun, they said. Unfortunately for us, and for England, just as it was with the T20s before, right at the moment that our appetites had been whetted and an intriguing future was in store, the rain came down. They don’t write this on the travel posters.

At the end of day three and with women’s Tests only allotted four days’ play, prospects of anything other than a draw now seem exceedingly remote. This despite a century stand for England’s ninth wicket. Despite an unbeaten 168 by Heather Knight, struck at a canter. And despite Katherine Brunt scalping two quick wickets before five overs had gone to leave Australia on 12 for two and just 52 runs ahead. For all England and Australia have said that they want a result and have backed this up with intent in all disciplines, that it will fall outside their control, once more, is a real shame.

It is not for lack of trying that England will likely find themselves with four draws from the last four Tests. The players are as frustrated as the fans. In contrast to the common perception that a naivety in Test cricket tactics have made women’s Test players more conservative, and more risk averse than their male counterparts, declarations in women’s Tests come far more frequently than in men’s.

Australian captain Meg Lanning’s first innings declaration in this one was a bold move, made swiftly when the 400 she’d hoped for had slipped out of reach. Knight’s batting intent, and that of England’s lower order, was similarly proactive as England this morning added 62 runs from just 113 balls before their final two wickets fell. And we don’t have to question Brunt’s desire for a result, her aggressive