'She is the pre-eminent spinner in the world' - Ellyse Perry extols Sophie Ecclestone's heroics on Day 1 of one-off Women's Ashes Test

England and Australia kicked off the Women’s Ashes in style when they locked horns on June 22, Thursday to begin with the one-off Test in Nottingham. Both sides put up a fight as they ended Day 1 on an equal note. While Ellyse Perry was the standout performer for the visitors with her 153-ball 99, Sophie Ecclestone stunned everyone with her spell for the hosts. Having faced Ecclestone on Day 1, Perry lauded the left-arm orthodox spinner for her heroics.

The first day of the first-ever five-day women’s Test saw Ecclestone bowling the most number of overs - 31- out of the 85 overs that were bowled in total. In her 31-over spell, she conceded 71 runs and picked up three crucial wickets, two of which came in the same over, the 57^th, when she dismissed Jess Jonassen (11 off 30) and skipper Alyssa Healy for a two-ball duck.

While all other bowlers maintained an economy of four runs per over, Ecclestone showed her class and delivered at 2.29 per over. Apart from the two wickets in the 57^th over, she also dismissed the in-form Tahlia McGrath to give her side a crucial breakthrough. Perry, who has played the Women’s Big Bash League alongside Ecclestone, reserved massive praise for the English all-rounder.

“It's quite unique, if I think about the Tests I have played in over the years, to just have one front-line spinner in the bowling attack. That speaks volumes of how incredibly good Sophie Ecclestone is. She is the pre-eminent spinner in the world, and to be trusted with that job in the England team, she showed her quality today. It's a big shift. In a lot of respects, it's probably even-stevens in the end. She is quality and is a big challenge for all of us,” Ellyse Perry was quoted as saying by The West Australian.

Australia will resume Day 2 on 328/7 with Annabel Sutherland (39* off 71) and Alana King (7* off 11) on the crease. Ecclestone will look to continue her form on the second day as well, to get the Aussies off the field and get on with their next innings.