Ruthless Australia dominate as England's batting folds again...WOMEN'S ASHES TALKING POINTS

NICK FRIEND AT HOVE: A series that seemingly began as a close-run contest has culminated in the development of an alarming gulf between two sides – one at a glorious peak, the other sitting flimsily as a stagnant imitation of its pinnacle

“The only big difference between the two teams really is the athleticism.”

These were the words of Mark Robinson after a meek draw at Taunton had ensured that Australia would leave England with the Women’s Ashes in tow for a second successive occasion.

On one level, they appeared a blinkered gaze into the intangible from a coach searching for answers on the back of a humiliating fortnight.

His team had been outplayed and outthought, but crucially – as has become ever-clearer as this multi-format series has progressed, outmuscled.

“That’s not a lack of effort from our team, that’s not lack of desire, they’ve just got better athletes, you can’t help that,” he continued.

It was a tough statement, but one that carries a certain truth with it. The notion that athleticism simply cannot be added or enabled – that it is a God-given quality, as Robinson also suggested – is a less convincing claim.

However, the crux of his admission has been there for all to see in a series that seemingly began as a close-run contest but has culminated in the development of an alarming gulf between two sides – one at its peak, the other a stagnant imitation of its pinnacle.

If Meg Lanning’s thrilling exhibition on Friday night was a glorious eye-opener of all that is possible in this format of the women’s game, then watching England’s attempt to set a similarly imposing target down at Hove was almost cruel.

Quite simply, the gap between these sides is greater than many – before this series, at least – will have wished to believe.

While Australia have blasted their way to their runs in this series, England’s have come through dainty sweep shots, deflections and an abdication of force in favour of whatever pace may be on offer.

The results have been tough to witness; they have become easily tied down, unable to locate a regular boundary option.

^{England's batting struggled again at Hove}

Here, Tammy Beaumont was bowled attempting to reverse sweep; Amy Jones was caught as she sought to cut Ellyse Perry; Nat Sciver – a far better player than this – lost her leg-stump as she went to ramp Georgia Wareham’s leg-spin; Lauren Winfield’s slog-sweep only found deep square leg. The pattern here was clear, just as it was when Perry decimated England in the third ODI.

This England team looks to hit the ball square, looks to guide rather than pummel, looks to chip into gaps rather than create its own spaces. Australia, on the other hand, hit straight. They possess the power to do so.

Three boundaries were struck in the second half of England’s innings; ten were hit in total. Australia hit 30 more than that at Chelmsford. Of course, the pitch was different, the dimensions of the ground were not the same. But there is a fearlessness missing to Robinson’s outfit - #GoBoldly, as the team’s social feed reads, is not being replicated on the field.

As a batting effort, it was, for wont of a softer word, soft. When Australia hit the ball, it stays hit – it is a mightily dull cliché, but it is a fairly indisputable contrast between these sides.

When Danni Wyatt was caught at mid-on by Beth Mooney running back, it had initially appeared as though her strike off Jess Jonassen might clear the boundary on the full.

Yet, this was, in a nutshell, the story of this series – it was the difference between these sides encapsulated in the fall of a single wicket. Rather than clear long-on, Mooney was able to tiptoe back, taking the catch 20 yards short of the rope.

In truth, the lack of serious criticism or scrutiny that has come with this chastening Ashes defeat is a product of its environment.

Australia have invested hugely in their women’s game; their player pool is close to five times greater.

^{Australia restricted their hosts to just 121 for eight}

When Australia arrived for this series – with England having waltzed past a poor West Indies side, many who don’t follow women’s cricket would have talked up England’s chances, based on little more than a stunning day at Lord’s in 2017, when the landscape of women’s cricket in this country did truly shift for the better.

Yet, while England have stood still, Australia have become a ruthless winning machine – the kind on which the archetype of Australian sport is built.

Heather Knight admitted after the brutality of Chelmsford that a major review of this series will take place. It is much-needed. It was tough not to feel for the England skipper as she was put in front of the cameras on Friday; quite simply, this is where her side is at and these are the tools at her disposal.

Individuals, of course, have been nowhere near their own levels; Anya Shrubsole, taken out of the firing line after a particularly humbling display on Friday, has endured a poor time of it.

Amy Jones has been dismissed by Ellyse Perry on four occasions with hardly a run to show for her efforts. She has made five runs in the five limited-over matches, with four ducks in that time.

Even England’s best fielders have erred; Danni Wyatt was guilty of multiple misfields at Chelmsford, while Tammy Beaumont put down Lanning in the same game.

There was, at least, some fight with the ball down in Hove. Alyssa Healy fell to a Katherine Brunt bouncer, while Mooney fell victim to the excellent Sophie Ecclestone. A collapse even briefly appeared on the cards as Ashleigh Gardner carved to short third man.

However, depth is the name of the game – both on the field and in these two nations’ cricketing structures. The three early wickets brought together Lanning and Perry – a cricketing ultimate. Perry found the time to break yet another record; she is the first cricketer - male or female - to 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 international cricket.

That, however, was but a footnote on another convincing day for her ruthless side.

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