‘Thought I was out’: Sophie Ecclestone’s shattering missed chance in Ashes opener

After an underwhelming couple of years with the bat, Australian all-rounder Ash Gardner considered Sophie Ecclestone’s dropped catch during the dying overs of Sunday afternoon’s six-wicket victory at North Sydney Oval to be proof her luck was finally starting to turn.

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Still needing 22 runs for victory in the first ODI of the women’s Ashes, Gardner slapped a low full toss towards Ecclestone at mid-off, who seemingly swallowed the chance before the ball slipped from her grasp when she landed on the turf.

Having been gifted a massive reprieve, Gardner (42*) and Alana King (11*) knocked off the remaining runs with 67 balls remaining to ensure Australia took an early lead in the multi-format series.

“I definitely thought I was out,” Gardner told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“To get that ball and hit the shot I did was pretty disappointing. I should have not tried to be too technically correct and put it in the stands (instead).

“They’re some of those moments when you need a bit of luck on your side. I feel like with my batting that I’ve been pretty luckless recently.

“Sometimes you just need some luck on your side in cricket.”

Bell, who finished with 1-25 from nine overs, initially jumped in the air to celebrate the dismissal before covering her mouth in disbelief upon realising Ecclestone had dropped the chance.

“Sophie doesn’t drop many catches, it’s very rare to see Sophie Ecclestone drop,” Bell said.

“I thought that she had it. I don’t think you could do that again if she tried. She hit her elbow and it literally popped out.

“I was celebrating, I was sure, but it is what it is. People drop catches.”

Kim Garth was the next batter in, with Megan Schutt and Darcie Brown rounding out Australia’s lengthy tail. If Ecclestone’s catch had been taken, England ripping through the lower order and stealing victory was not entirely out of the question.

“I don’t think if I can say if we would have won or not. I can’t see into the future,” Bell continued.

“It could have changed the game, but we’ll never know.”

Gardner, named player of the match, has recorded 50, 19, 74 and 42* in her four most recent ODIs, including a five-wicket haul during last month’s series finale against India in Perth. The 27-year-old had averaged 19.28 across her previous 15 ODIs, dating back to the 2023 tour of the United Kingdom.

During this recent Women’s Big Bash League, Gardner accumulated 103 runs at 12.87 with a strike rate of 94.49, failing to reach fifty in ten matches.

“Coming off the back of the Big Bash, T20 cricket is such a funny one because it’s so fickle,” Gardner continued.

“I find batting in the middle order in this team in ODI cricket that I’ve got more time, and I think that’s something I try to remember when I’m out in the middle.

“For me, it’s always knowing that I can catch up if needed.

“The conditions were pretty tricky and I never felt like I was fully in … it seemed even tougher to get off strike.

“If I’m a sitting duck then I’m always chasing the game, and that’s not what I want to do.”

Meanwhile, Gardner confirmed she was battling a minor “tennis elbow” complaint that has limited movement in her right arm for a couple of weeks – perhaps to her benefit.

“Maybe I’m just using my top hand a little bit more and a little bit better technique,” she laughed.

Australia has taken a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series, but the hosts won’t show any signs of complacency over the coming days – Alyssa Healy’s side took a 6-0 during the previous edition of the women’s Ashes in 2023 before England bounced back to draw the series.

“We could be playing amazing cricket, but England are such an amazing team and they always find a way,” Gardner said.

“They certainly fought really hard in that series and we know that they’re going to look at this game and look at the things they didn’t do well and the things they did do well and try to implement them for longer periods.”

The second ODI between Australia and England gets underway at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on Tuesday, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30am AEDT.