Cricket: Cricketing sisters are doing it for themselves

In The list of admired players which appears against the entrants' names in the Cricketer's Who's Who is one which says: Jane. This is unconnected with either Tarzan's belle or the cartoon character but is Jane Smith, the wicketkeeper-batsman of the England women's team.

She is the sole choice of the young Derbyshire all-rounder Matthew Cassar, which provides firm evidence of the burgeoning significance of the female game. True, Jane may have had a head-start by also being Mrs Cassar, but that should not undermine the general point. English women's cricket is prospering.

They not only hold the World Cup but are so strong and confident that on the eve of the one-day series against South Africa which began on Friday the chairman of the Women's Cricket Association, Sharon Bayton, was able to say: "We'd be foolish to underestimate the opposition but I'd be disappointed if we didn't win 5-0." When Lord MacLaurin is in a position to make such predictions, you can be sure his reforms have worked.

Overwhelming triumph or not, this is a key series for England (two of the matches are being shown on satellite television). It will be crucial to their preparations for the defence of the World Cup in India this December. Since winning the tournament on home soil in 1993 England's fortunes have been mixed. They won a Test rubber in India 1-0 but lost 3-2 in the one- day series. Last season against New Zealand they held on for draws in the three Tests but were resoundingly defeated in all three limited-over contests.

"Well New Zealand are a very good side but there's no doubt we were under- prepared," said the coach Megan Lear. "But we've worked tremendously hard since then and had intensive sessions with people like Mike Gatting, Alan Igglesden and in the past few days with Dermot Reeve. They were all a tremendous help in guiding us on how to be ready and give our best. We have some fine players and it's a question of blending youth and experience."

That last sentence is similar to ones that have been uttered before in other quarters. But the women selectors mean it. It will be no surprise in the World Cup if 17-year-old Charlotte Edwards opens the batting with Janette Brittin, England's most capped player. The women's game is attracting more players; it was, importantly, included in Vodafone's wide-ranging sponsorship, which means players do not have to pay everything for the privilege of playing; and is about to come under the umbrella of the England and Wales Cricket Board. It is achieving equality and its participants have also begun wearing trousers instead of culottes for the first time. This is principally to help them avoid skin burns now that they have developed modern sliding techniques while fielding, but Sharon Bayton said: "Don't make too much of it. Some of the traditionalists might object but I suppose I could be one of those myself. We're wearing coloured clothing in the World Cup but it couldn't come about for this summer." Change then, but not too quickly. Somewhere we have heard that before.

To The end the Australians have been courteous, approachable and, except when lambasting attitudes in English cricket, determinedly uncontroversial. Glenn McGrath wheeled good-naturedly into a press conference at Trent Bridge and was asked how he and his buddies treated the Australian-born Hollioakes while they were at the crease. From the point of view of sledging, it must be understood.

"I can't really hear what's going on," the fast bowler said. "I'm fielding on the fence." And sitting on it.

There is a misconception around that this is the first time the Australians have won the Ashes on five consecutive occasions. Not so. By taking a 3-1 lead (3-2 as of next week) it simply became the first time they had won five series in a row.

Twice previously they have held the urn for six series on the trot: between 1934 and 1950-51 and 1958-59 and 1968. During the first run England managed to draw one series in 1938 and in the second drew three. That is what makes the present sequence so dispiriting, and with nobody as good as Bradman to retire - as he did to give England hope after 1948 - it is difficult not to see it becoming seven.

Book mark: "To lose one's temper under strain of adverse circumstances is bad at any game, but worse at cricket. A bowler who does so when his catches are not being held has every possible excuse. But he does not want excuses. He wants wickets. And the way to get them is to keep an unruffled mind." Not a censorious statement on events at Chelmsford in the NatWest semi-final but an extract from the marvellous Wodehouse At The Wicket, edited by Murray Hedgcock, an anthology of the great humorist's writings on the game.

nursery end

Darren Thomas has had a fluctuating season, almost perfectly encapsulated by his bowling in a losing cause for Glamorgan against Essex in the NatWest Trophy semi-final last week. The 22-year-old medium-fast bowler was given a fearful hammering by Stuart Law after delivering an accidental beamer, for which he apologised. More then 70 runs came off 10 overs. But refusing to be dispirited, the boy from Morriston came back. He took five swift wickets, including one on the final morning, to give Glamorgan a glimpse of victory and make a tense match fraught. Then he bowled a full toss which Peter Such struck through the covers for the winning runs. Heartbreaking for the worthy Thomas, but probably a wonderful learning experience. Perhaps he should be blamed for provoking Messrs Ilott and Croft to such fury.