• Women’s Ashes Test, day one: England 170; Australia 56-1
• Only Nat Sciver-Brunt’s half-century offers resistance

And so it finally arrived: the first day of women’s Test cricket at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground since 1949. Long-planned by Cricket Australia, there was a crackle of history in the air, as Alyssa Healy (ruled fit to play at the 11th hour) wore the legendary Betty Wilson’s green blazer out to the middle for the toss, before a procession of former Australia Test captains – from Marg Jennings to Rachael Haynes – led the way onto the field to begin the anthems.

Then, as Alana King spun her web around England - taking four for 45 as the visitors fell to 170 all out in 71.4 overs - the spirit of a legendary leg-spinner echoed around the ground. No, not Shane Warne, but Peggy Antonio, the Melburnian factory-worker who took six for 49 the first time a women’s Test was played at this ground in January 1935. Her achievement is marked on the honours board in the home changing room at the ground – the only woman so honoured – and though a dropped catch off her own bowling denied King the chance to take a fifth wicket to join her, it was nonetheless a Test bowling performance for the ages, in front of a crowd of 11,643.