Jul 2nd, 2019

Jul 2nd, 2019

A major umpiring howler gifted Jess Jonassen a wicket in the Women's Ashes opener as Australia rattled through England's top order.

Left arm spinner Jonassen was the beneficiary of a blunder from umpire Martin Saggers when he adjudged Fran Wilson to have been struck on the pad in front of the stumps.

Replays showed Wilson was struck on the glove and no pad involved, to the delight of a sheepish Jonassen, who reduced England at that stage to 5-44.

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Despite the presence of HawkEye and Snicko in the broadcast, the Decision Review System has not been made available in the Women's Ashes at the directive of the England & Wales Cricket Board due to cost issues.

Former Australian captain Lisa Sthalekar was unimpressed with the refusal to use DRS in such a high profile series.

"It's not ideal. They seem to have HawkEye and Snicko on the broadcast, sowhy don't they have DRS?" Sthalekar posed to Wide World Of Sports.

"This is a marquee series, it is really special. Ideally you'd like the right decisions, but to get rid of howlers you need need the tech. "

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"The other option is the third umpire is able to intervene in howlers. Surely the third umpire can see that?

"It's not in the rules, but maybe if there isn't the financial means to have the bells and whistles, you need to think outside the square a bit."

The incident didn't overshadow a dominant bowling performance from Australia, who bowled England out for 177 in Leicester after winning the toss.

A new ball blitz from Ellyse Perry (3-43) and Megan Schutt (2-19) had England reeling at 4-19 after five overs.

But a fighting 64 from Nat Sciver, supported by Laura Mash (24) and Sophie Ecclestone (27) gave England a mediocre total to defend.