England v Australia
County Ground, Hove: 29th August – 1st September 1987
The series moved to Hove for the third Test and England captain Carole Hodges won her third toss in succession…
“Losing tosses was what I did… It became a standing joke really! Given I captained a team of stars, I didn’t always get to do anything of substance, and used to say I was just in the team to do the toss… not that that should have been a claim to fame given my appalling record.” – Australian captain Lyn Larsen
… and sent Australia in to bat. It was to be a huge mistake. Lindsay Reeler was the first out, run out for 53 when the score was 84. Belinda Haggett fell early, but then a partnership developed between Ruth Buckstein, in for the injured Denise Emerson, and Denise Annetts, as if England hadn’t already seen enough of the latter. Larsen also chimed in, with seven fours in her not out score of 70 before she declared 7/366. There clearly wasn’t anything in the wicket, which makes the England captain’s decision to bowl all the more vexing.
“I don’t know what her thinking was or what was going on in the England camp. I do recall it was a pretty good wicket. I enjoyed batting on it.” – Larsen
England started poorly in reply, with four in the shed for 33 runs before they regrouped. Half centuries to Karen Smithies and Jo Chamberlain saved the home side and Hodges declared 8/265. The England skipper did the right thing here, declaring short of the Australian target in an effort to get a result, but it was too little too late. With one hand on the Ashes, Australia just batted out time. Reeler, Haggett and Annetts all passed 70 as Larsen declared at stumps on the final day 8/262.
The Test drawn, Australia won the series 1-0 and retained the Ashes.
Australia 7 dec 366 (Buckstein 83, Larsen 70*, Reeler 53, Annetts 51, Hicken 3-63) and 8 dec 262 (Reeler 75, Annetts 74, Haggett 73) drew with England 8 dec 265 (Hicken 64, Chamberlain 59, Hodges 46, Brown 5-32)