Women's Ashes Predictions

Six months ago, I put my (fortunately metaphorical) money on Australia to win the Women's Ashes in England.

And although the final 12-4 scoreline somewhat mocks my soothsaying credentials, it was actually a pretty close series, which would have turned out very differently were it not for Knight and Marsh's heroic stand at Wormsley. (Had Australia got either Knight or Marsh out cheaply, England's collapse would have been complete - they'd have lost the Test and likely the series with it.)

So it will probably come as no surprise that my money is on Australia again - they are the ODI and T20 World Champions for a reason; and this time they are better-prepared than ever, with their near-full-time-professional squad riding the crest of the wave of the domestic season, while England's players have been back at their day jobs - slogging it out in cold gymnasiums while the Southern Stars train in the Aussie sunshine.

I think the weather will play a part too - the heat of the WACA had even England's fans melting during the recent men's game; so for players more used to Pidley than Perth, I've a feeling the Test could be very tough for England.

My guess therefore is that Australia will win the Test and then, with the psychological advantage of being 6-0 up, go on to take the series by a substantial margin. Such a result would flatter them, as the summer's score did England, but that's the way cricket crumbles with the points allocated as they are.

But of course, I've been wrong before... so let's keep our fingers crossed - hopefully I'll be wrong again!