Women’s Ashes Test 2015: Jess Jonassen frustrates England

Jess Jonassen’s unbeaten 95 on her Test debut frustrated England as Australia finished day one of the Women’s Ashes Test on 268-8.

Seamer Anya Shrubsole’s four wickets in 27 balls helped reduce the Southern Stars from 66-0 to 99-5 in Canterbury.

But 22-year-old Queensland all-rounder Jonassen helped Australia fight back.

She shared half-century partnerships with Alyssa Healy (39) and fellow debutant Kristen Beams (24 not out) to give the tourists the upper hand.

Australia lead the seven-match Ashes series four points to two, having won the three-game one-day international series 2-1.

Four points will be awarded to the winners of the four-day Test, with three Twenty20s to follow.

On-song Shrubsole

Having claimed just one wicket in the three ODIs, Shrubsole produced some of her best bowling of the series in the one-off Test.

The 23-year-old Somerset player struck in the third over of her second spell and finished with 4-59.

After a 66-run opening stand, Elyse Villani (33) and Australia captain Meg Lanning (3) fell in identical fashion, caught well at first slip by Heather Knight.

Shrubsole bowled debutant Nicole Bolton (36) after lunch before having the dangerous Ellyse Perry caught behind by Sarah Taylor for five to put England in the ascendancy.

Debutant Jonassen steals the show

Jonassen walked to the crease with Australia on 87-4 before Alex Blackwell (7) was trapped lbw to give Katherine Brunt a deserved wicket and leave the visitors in trouble on 99-5.

Jonassen shared a 77-run sixth-wicket partnership with Healy, who was watched by her fiance Mitchell Starc – part of the Australia team beaten in the men’s Ashes – and uncle Ian Healy, a former Test wicketkeeper.

Healy had contributed 39 when she was out lbw for the first of Laura Marsh’s two wickets.

Sarah Coyte was caught behind off Kate Cross’s bowling before Megan Schutt was out lbw to Marsh.

But the home side endured a frustrating last hour-and-a-half as Jonassen played several sublime cover drives to move closer to her century.

She was assisted by a dogged innings from fellow Test debutant Beams as Australia kept England at bay.

‘England will be disappointed’

England bowler Shrubsole told BBC Test Match Special: “It’s probably an even day and both teams will be happy. In an ideal world we would’ve liked to have picked up the last two wickets but Jess played brilliantly.

“We’re relatively happy and hopefully we can take the last two wickets early on. There are a few tired bodies but this is what we do the training for. If a number 10 can play like that then it shows it’s clearly not a bad track.”

Ex-England batter Ebony Rainford-Brent did not agree with Shrubsole’s assessment.

“England would’ve wanted Australia wrapped up for 150 at the most and will feel they have let the game slip away from them,” she told BBC Test Match Special.

“They will be a little bit disappointed but it has been a brilliant fightback from Australia. They had to deal with some really positive bowling from England.”

Jonassen said batting was “tough” and praised England for bowling “very well”.

She added: “The pleasing thing is that I managed to get through and be there at the close of play.

“We’re in a really good position and hopefully we can score a few runs quickly on Wednesday and get some joy with the ball.”