Australia v England
WACA Ground, Perth: 13th – 16th December 1984
There were five Test matches scheduled for the first time in the history of Australian women’s cricket. It was the 50 year anniversary of Test cricket and the Peden/Archdale Trophy was created for the series in honour of the first two captains, Margaret Peden and Betty Archdale. England had held the Ashes since 1963.
England’s Jan Southgate won the toss and chose to bat and they worked their way to 290 runs from 133 overs. It was slow going and the best of the Aussie bowlers was not a pace merchant but the spinner, South Australia’s Lyn Fullston, who took 4-61 from 40.1 overs. Fullston had shown in India that she could get through some overs and backed it up again at the WACA. The real drama for Australia however, was the breakdown during the England innings of fast bowling captain, Sharon Tredrea, damaging her Achilles tendon.
“I had the injury for a couple of months and had worked so hard to get it right to play. The disappointment when it ‘gave way’ during the game is indescribable. Had dreamt of playing a full Test series against England in Australia – then puff, gone.”
Despite half centuries from Denise Emerson (84) and Jill Kennare (56), Australia fell short of England’s total, all out 251. England batted again, slowly, and delayed their declaration to give Australia a target of 280 in two and a half sessions. Kennare scored a century but there was no time to press for victory. While Tredrea batted, it would be her last appearance for Australia in a Test match.
England 290 (Court 90, Watmough 46, Fullston 4-61) and 9 dec 242 (Brittin 112, Thompson 4-47) drew with Australia 251 (Emerson 84, Kennare 56, Starling 3-40) and 8/209 (Kennare 103, Slother 2-44, Starling 2-47)