AUS Women vs ENG Women, Only Test at Taunton, Ashes, Jul 18 2019 - Ball by Ball Commentary

England captain Heather Knight: Obviously disappointed. They've outplayed us, so congratulations to them, but we're disappointed. We've got to treat this T20 series as a series in itself. We've not played up to the standards we know we can. We wanted to be positive, last night the ball was quite soft and it was hard to score. We wanted to give Nat a chance to score quickly, she was unlucky, that innings deserved a hundred. We've got a lot of character and resilience in that team. The game was probably gone today, but we've got to move onto the T20s now, and treat that as an opportunity for players.

Meg Lanning, Australia captain: It's certainly a good position to be in. We had a hard four-day battle and it was a real good challenge for our group. Unfortunately, couldn't get a result here, but it was a great Test. We came today hoping to be in a position to enforce the follow-on. once that wasn't able to happen and we lost those early wickets it didn't happen. We've got a really even group, a lot of different contributors - different people stepping up at different times. It's been a lot closer than what the scoreboard suggests, and we're really looking forward to the T20s. I don't think Perry gave a chance over the two innings, she loves playing Test cricket. To have those young girls come in and play an important role is something we're really proud of as a group. We've got a few days off, but have a bit to achieve still on this tour, and we know England are going to come back really hard.

Ellyse Perry is Player of the Match: We all jump at the opportunity to play the longer form, put on the whites and the baggy green. The records we've been able to achieve in the last 12 months have been really fun. The last four days, the way we acquitted ourselves was absolutely brilliant. We couldn't get the result, but we dominated for long periods. Really enjoy being out there, enjoy the challenge. It's awesome [seeing players coming through]. They've brought so much to our group. The baggy green presentation was a bit spine-tingling, really. It's super exciting, and a big challenge for the older girls.

Mark Robinson, England coachWe lost the toss, which was the start of things going wrong. Can't fault the girls, they've given absolutely everything. Brunty was outstanding on the first morning but everyone else took a while [to settle]. The ball did a bit, we beat the bat, but we missed a trick. As the game developed we bowled well but didn't get the breaks that we needed. It wasn't about this game, it was about losing those first two ODIs. We had a great chance to win that first game. Sometimes you come up short, and that's how it is. We had six crazy days which cost us as a team.

17.40 And that's it! Time for handshakes. Match drawn, which means Australia have retained the Ashes before the T20 leg of the series has even started. They were ruthless throughout the ODI series, particularly in that third ODI, and haven't offered England as much as a sniff in this Test. Perry was immense, with a ton in the first dig and an unbeaten 76 in the second, while Sophie Molineux on debut impressed with both bat and ball.

For England, there is a lot of hard work to be done: Amy Jones and Nat Sciver fought hard with the bat, but their attack looked undercooked throughout, and their lack of intent last night was like asking the final nail to be hammered into their coffin. Those two sessions lost to rain on day two really hurt the spectacle, but such is life with a four-day game on a painfully slow pitch. A T20 whitewash would mean a series draw, but Australia's win in 2017 means that they retain the trophy.

Thanks for joining us over the course of this Test. Stick around for the report, but until then, from Andrew, Alan, Valkerie and me, it's goodbye!

Jack: "Player of match is Molineux in my books. Had a terrific game" Got to be Perry, no?

One more needed before the handshakes...

Here comes Ash Gardner, who didn't get much of a bat in the first innings

Abhijato: "Since there's still a few minutes left, here's the Crystal Ball *one last time* in this mostly engaging Ashes Test: Perry will end her career as the GSOAT (Garfield Sobers Of All time), no worries ..."

Gordon continues

This game is meandering very, very slowly, and the spectacle has long gone. This could be the last over coming up

Sandeep Mathew: "Match is a reflection of the difference in quality of two teams.. no point cribbing about Aussies not forcing the issue here"

Adrian: "Australia have earned the right to approach the test like this by winning all 3 ODIs. If we hadn't been whitewashed they more than likely would have gone for a win today."

Michael Freeman: "This would have been a brilliant Test if like the men (and that's what it should be) if this was heading into the 5th day"

An over or two left until the option to shake hands on the draw is there, and you'd have to assume that will be taken...

OB Jato: "But then, Jeremy, aren't we *all* in the Perry fan club?" Ha!