Key events
6th over: Australia 25-1 (Healy 7, Perry 0) Filer beats Healy with a terrific delivery, possibly a cutter. One step forward, one step back: the next ball is too short and pulled emphatically for four. Healy plays that shot so well.
Filer, whose speed is up at 76mph, follows back-to-back wides with four consecutive dot balls to Healy.
5th over: Australia 17-1 (Healy 3, Perry 0) Bell starts with a wide but the rest of the over is really accurate and costs just a single. Healy has been restrained so far, making three from nine balls. She was happy to play second fiddle to Litchfield but might start to go after Lauren Filer now. That said, the pitch looks very slow and not particularly conducive to strokeplay.
4th over: Australia 17-1 (Healy 2, Perry 0) Well that was an eventful over. Litchfield’s beautiful straight drive feels about half an hour ago.
Perry is not out! England are all out of reviews. Perry pushed at a wide delivery from Filer but missed it by an inch or two. I think England based their review on a rogue noise; no idea what it was but it’s not great captaincy from Heather Knight either way.
England review against Elysse Perry! This is turning into a DRSfest. Heather Knight went upstairs with about 0.5 seconds remaining.
WICKET! Australia 17-1 (Litchfield c Jones b Filer 15)
The gamble pays off! Litchfield started walking before UltraEdge confirmed the ball brushed the glove on its way through to Amy Jones. That’s a big wicket for England – mainly because Litchfield was looking so good but also because it means they still have a review.
3.2 overs: Australia 17-0 (Litchfield 15, Healy 2) That’s a gorgeous stroke from Litchfield, a perfectly timed push straight down the ground for four.
England appeal for a catch down the leg side when Litchfield tries to pull. Heather Knight has reviewed it. That’s a huge gamble because England only have one left.
3rd over: Australia 12-0 (Litchfield 11, Healy 1) Litchfield, on the walk, clips Bell just over square leg for four. Capsey was at full stretch and couldn’t quite reach it.
Bell replies with a lovely slower ball that cuts past the edge. But Litchfield is looking dangerous and ends the over with a handsome drive over mid-off for four more.
2nd over: Australia 3-0 (Litchfield 3, Healy 0) Lauren Filer shares the new ball. She’s been expensive so far, going at almost six an over; England can’t afford that today in what is likely to be a relatively low-scoring game. Filer starts pretty well, hitting a full length and conceding just a couple to Litchfield.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Litchfield 1, Healy 0) I’m not sure Heather Knight would have reviewed that were it anybody other than Healy. She looked a little reluctant but was talked into it by Jones.
Healy is not out! She missed an attempted pull outside leg stump and Amy Jones was convinced it had brushed the glove. There was a noise, but the technology confirmed it hit Healy’s shirt rather than the glove.
England review for caught behind against Healy! My hunch is not out, but who cares about my hunches.
The players are ready. Lauren Bell, who bowled majestically in the first two ODIs, will open up.
Lauren Bell chats to TNT Sports
We can take a lot from the two games – we were close in both of them. I’ve learned some new skills over the last 12 months and I’ve had to work really hard to make them consistent; I guess I’m getting the rewards now.
We’ve definitely been here before [in the 2023 Ashes]. Australia are an amazing team but hopefully we can do something similar. We know what we got a bit wrong in the last two games so we just need to reset and go again.
It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way
Team news
As expected, the legspinner Georgia Wareham replaces Darcie Brown in the Australia XI. England are unchanged; Heather Knight says Kate Cross was “pretty close” to playing.
Australia Litchfield, Healy (c/wk), Perry, Mooney, Sutherland, Gardner, McGrath, King, Garth, Wareham, Schutt.
England Beaumont, Bouchier, Knight (c), Sciver-Brunt, Wyatt-Hodge, Jones (wk), Capsey, Dean, Ecclestone, Filer, Bell.
Australia win the toss and bat
“The wicket looks a little bit dry and could get hard later on,” says Alyssa Healy. It’s a used pitch and England would also have batted first; it feels like a really good toss to win.
England, who were undone by spin in Melbourne, may have even more to deal with today. The Hobart pitch is drier than expected and Australia may recall Georgia Wareham in place of Darcie Brown. England’s Kate Cross will have a fitness test this morning; if she passes it you’d expect her to replace Lauren Filer.
Preamble
The deciding game of a series isn’t always the decisive one. Australia can’t officially retain the Ashes tonight, but realistically it will be a done deal if they win the third ODI in Hobart. A series that has been criticised for being too compressed is in danger of becoming an anticlimactic waste of time.
Australia’s thrilling comeback at Melbourne has left England not only 4-0 down in the multi-format series but also dealing with the scars of a botched run-chase. They simply have to win today.
The match starts at 10.05am AET, 11.05pm GMT.
