Women's Ashes: Dropped catches hurt England as Australia take control of Test in Canberra

Missed chances hurt England as Australia took control of the crucial Ashes Test on the first day.

After being dropped on 14, Australia captain Meg Lanning hit 93 and opener Rachael Haynes made 86 to steer Australia to 327-7.

After England made an excellent start with the ball, the hosts were in trouble.

Ellyse Perry was caught off a top edge for 18 in the fourth over, a rare failure for the imperious all-rounder in Test whites.

Lanning and Haynes were 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217

They looked to be easing towards their maiden Test centuries when Lanning and Haynes both gloved Brunt.

That gave England hope of a final-session fightback, but Ashleigh Gardner's aggressive 56 and Tahlia McGrath's 52 secured Australia's position in the ascendency, despite the latter falling to the final ball of the day.

After a win in the opening Twenty20 of the multi-format series and wash-outs in the next two games, Australia will retain the urn.

England will need to win all three of the one-day internationals after this Test to regain the urn.

England cause their own problems

England did a lot of good things on the first day of the Test, but the fear is that their errors will cost them.

After England won the toss and chose to bowl, Brunt,Sciver and Shrubsole found movement through the air.

When she was removed with a surprise bouncer, England were well on top, as she had scored 213 not out and 116 in her previous two Tests.

Brunt had Haynes caught with a brilliant delivery that lifted off a length and trapped him in front of the crowd, bowling in typically aggressive fashion for 38 in the final session.

The tourists had a problem with the slack period that came in between.

Heather Knight put down a catch in the final over of the morning session when Lanning tried to hit the left-arm spinner.

After lunch Haynes nicked a cut to second slip off Brunt only for Sciver to spill a harder catch diving to her left.

Haynes and Lanning were able to score at ease for the rest of the session as England looked flat.

The game is not over yet but, with women's Tests played over four days not five, England don't have much time to turn the tables on their hosts.

Australia show fearsome depth

The fact that Australia can do so points to their impressive batting depth.

Lanning, who was playing her 150th match as captain of Australia across all formats, started shakily before she grew into her century.

She scored freely between extra cover and gully with drives and cuts, and was aggressive against an off-colour Ecclestone.

Even with an old ball,Sciver was able to dismiss her.

She hit the only six of the day, and was particularly attacking, while she was untroubled, as she was when scoring a match-winning 91 not out in the first T20, until she was caught behind playing a wild drive to the final ball.

'Wickets evened it up' - reaction

Australia captain Meg Lanning said that they felt they had England on the ropes and then to get those two breakthroughs probably evened it up.

I was comfortable through the middle session. I was struggling before lunch.

NatSciver said that England probably won the first session and then got a little bit wide and careless in the middle, and brought it back at the end.

The runs stacked up a little but it was a quick- scoring ground and it became easier to score when they got in.

We are frustrated with the drops and maybe a lack of energy in the afternoon session.