Guha releases pressure

Isa Guha was delighted with the wicket of the Australia captain Karen Rolton © Getty Images

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England seamer Isa Guha made the most of her chance to lead the attack against Australia, claiming 5-40 as they look to retain the Ashes on foreign soil.

Despite the match being an away fixture, it started under typically-English cloudy weather and winning the toss gave England the chance to make the most of the leaden skies.

“It was a great toss to win,” Guha told ecb.co.uk. “We were able to utilise the bowling conditions and put Australia on the back foot.

“The overcast conditions were more similar to English conditions early on and as the day went on, the sun came out and the pitch got a bit flatter. Over here and in England we get pretty good pitches.”

With Jenny Gunn ruled out before the match, Guha was called upon to open the bowling, with Nicky Shaw, and she took the opportunity with gusto.

“I was told that Jenny was in doubt to play, so I could visualise opening the bowling,” she said.

“Jen has got pretty big shoes to fill, so I was quite nervous going into the game today. I knew that if I bowled in the right areas and didn’t let off any pressure, we’d come away on top.”

Shaw had figures of 19-9-18-2 in a highly economical spell of bowling, with Laura Marsh also contributing 16-10-20-1, which allowed Guha the freedom to try things to take wickets.

Nicky Shaw had economical figures of 2-18 © Getty Images

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“I think me and Nick definitely worked in partnership,” she agreed. “Nick was very economical and that did allow me to bowl where I bowl and took the pressure off me.

“Laura Marsh bowled really well as well, which meant the pressure was never really taken off the Aussies.”

Guha accounted for opposition captain Karen Rolton in her five-for and admitted that she was the wicket of which she was most proud.

“She was building an innings - she got 34 - so it was important that she didn’t carry on and make a hundred,” she added. “I was pretty pleased with that one.”

The plans that England made certainly paid off as they restricted their hosts to 154 all out, giving them every chance to win or draw the match and keep the Ashes which they won in 2005.

“We were working to a set plan in that we wanted to take it session by session,” Guha said. “We wanted to play attacking cricket.”

England ended the day on 22 without loss and are looking to build on that platform on day two.

“I think the most important thing is to keep wickets in hand and bat out the day,” Guha said. “I think we are looking to bat session by session.

“If we can get 300 runs tomorrow, then that would be excellent and we can take it from there.

"We’re well aware that it’s only day one and we’ve got another nine sessions to perform well in."

After play, Kate Blackwell said Australia were disappointed with their performance and were keen to make amends early on day two.

Kate Blackwell is sure Australia will come out firing

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“There weren’t any demons in the pitch early. We just didn’t bat well,” Blackwell acknowledged.

“But we’re still in it. A few quick wickets will really put us in the game. We are still very excited about this match and we’ll come out all guns blazing.”

England captain Charlotte Edwards added: ”I’m delighted that on the first day of an Ashes Test match we’ve managed to bowl Australia out for 154.

“It was gutting to lose Jenny, but the way all the bowlers responded, especially Isa, was a great effort. They were supported really well in the field.

“We know Australia are going to come back at us hard over the next few days, but we’re up for the challenge.”

A crowd of approximately 1,000 was at the Bowral ground to watch the encounter and Guha admitted that she had her own Barmy Army there to support England.

“Me and a few of the other girls who have been out here since September (playing club cricket) have made quite a few friends and they were supporting us,” she laughed.

“One of the girls brought a trumpet and there was a guitar there, so they were making a bit of noise.”

“The crowd were really great and really supportive of women’s cricket and the occasion.”

It can only bode well for the future of the game.