After Australia picked up a convincing win in the opening ODI of the 2025 Women’s Ashes, England are on the back foot. Heather Knight and Co need a result in their favour to keep the series alive.
Ahead of the second ODI of the Women’s Ashes 2025, here are our match preview and predictions.
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After being put to bat first in last game, England had a poor start, losing their openers early on. While their experienced middle order got starts, none of them managed to get a big score, which hurt the innings. The likes of Heather Knight, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, and Amy Jones all failed to capitalise after they got going as England failed to bat out the 50 overs, collapsing for 204 in the 44th. Knight will want more from herself and her senior batters going forward.
In the second innings, Lauren Bell was tight with the new ball and got rid of the dangerous Ellyse Perry, while Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone both chipped in with a couple of wickets, albeit Filer was on the expensive side, going at over seven an over. Moving to Melbourne for the second ODI, the English bowlers will have a pitch that will support them, and they will want to make the most of it with early breakthroughs.
For the hosts, it was a complete bowling effort as everyone stepped up whenever needed, with Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland, and Alana King making sure there were regular breakthroughs throughout the innings as Ashleigh Gardner wrapped things out with a three-for. While Australia lost Phoebe Litchfield early on in the chase, captain Alyssa Healy’s controlled and calculated 70 guided the hosts home, with Gardner also coming in with a crucial unbeaten 42. Gardner’s form with both bat and ball will be a big positive for Healy, and she will count on the likes of Perry and Mooney to come good with the bat as well in Melbourne.
The Junction Oval in Melbourne is a low-scoring ground, so expect a tough game for the batters on a wicket set to favour the bowlers. We back the hosts as the favourites again to win this game and seal the series in Melbourne.
Fantasy XI: Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Lauren Bell, Alana King, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone
Venue: Junction Oval, Melbourne
Winners Prediction: Australia
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