Edwards: Jonassen knocks changed the game

Charlotte Edwards and her England side now face the prospect of winning the three remaining T20s of the summer if they are to level the series and retain the Ashes.

Speaking after a 161-run defeat in the Kia Women's Test, the Kent and England skipper said: “Some of our shot selections today weren’t good enough but we’re still in this series and we have to go away now, work on our batting and come out fighting. We aren’t going to back down.

“Georgia Elwiss and Lydia Greenway got us into a position at tea to potentially save the game, but the devastating spell after the interval from Ellyse [four for eight off 20 balls] really changed the game. She bowled fantastically well and turned the game Australia’s way

“Jess Jonassen’s two innings, particularly her 99 in the first innings, was the game-changer. Our bowlers gave everything over the four days but it’s a shame that right now our batters aren’t really backing them up. But the girls will go away, work hard in the nets and hopefully the change in format will allow us to come out and express ourselves.”

Australia’s victorious skipper Meg Lanning said: “Test matches don’t along very often so to win is a very nice feeling to have.

“Batting was really difficult for both teams throughout the match. We had some thin patches in the first innings and to get to 274 from where we were at five for 99 was probably the difference between winning and losing.

“Jess Jonassen looked like she was playing on a different wicket to everyone else. She batted superbly and deserved her runs.

“We bowled really well today, particularly Allyse. We kept the pressure on and bowled a lot of maidens which created pressure and bought wickets along at regular intervals.

“We’re now looking forward to the shorter-format faster paced games but England will certainly be looking to bounce back so we’ll have to play well.”