Australia captain Alyssa Healy said before today’s first ODI in North Sydney that she wanted her team to “throw the first punch” of the women’s Ashes – and her bowlers duly obliged, throwing a combination of haymakers that left England stunned before landing an uppercut of her own with a dominant 70 that steered her side to a comfortable four-wicket victory.

A key difference between these two sides is depth. While England have world-class talents at their disposal like spin bowler Sophie Eccelestone and allrounder Nat Sciver-Brunt, they do not possess the strength across the board that Australia can call upon to suit the changing rhythm of the game.

Australia won the toss and put England in to bat on a seam-friendly pitch. Ashleigh Gardner was rewarded with three wickets, with her dismissal of England’s Lauren Bell the 100th of her career in the ODI format. Gardner was aided by a brilliant supporting cast of Alana King, Kim Garth and Annabel Sutherland, who bagged two wickets each.

England’s batting was poor, with captain Heather Knight holding her side’s innings together with a courageous 39 runs. The North Sydney wicket offered plenty of movement off the seam and the Australian attack took full advantage, changing up their deliveries to keep the visitors guessing and eventually dispatching them for a disappointing total of just 204.

The sell-out North Sydney crowd sensed a straightforward run-chase, but the wicket that had caused England so much trouble gave the hosts plenty of headaches of their own.

The early wicket of Phoebe Litchfield, who managed just four runs, in the second over gave the tourists a glimmer of hope.

Matters got worse for Australia when they lostEllyse Perry after just eight overs. The star allrounder had been living dangerously in an uncharacteristically nervy batting performance, surviving a dropped catch from Alice Capsey before perishing lbw to Lauren Bell. Perry was initially given not out but after lengthy discussions between Bell and England captain Heather Knight, the decision was sent upstairs and duly overturned.

Healy, too, endured a relatively nervous start at the crease before easing into her innings, hitting a solid 70 that gave her side the platform needed to pick off the runs required. Healy’s score was complemented by a valuable 42 from the outstanding Gardner as Australia rounded out the victory.