There is a striking difference between England’s and Australia’s XI – and that difference told as the hosts were the first to put points on the board in the 2025 Women’s Ashes when winning the opening one-day international by four wickets in Sydney.

Ashleigh Gardner's all-round brilliance and Alyssa Healy's composed knock guided Australia to a commanding four-wicket win over England in the Women's Ashes opener, setting an early tone for their dominance in the multi-format series.

England already playing catch up in the Womens Ashes after losing the first two points of the series in the first of three ODIs; multi-format series, which also features three T20s and one Test, continues in Melbourne on Monday night;

On a tricky batting wicket at North Sydney Oval, the hosts bowled England out for just 204 before chasing down their target with four wickets in hand

Henry Moeran is alongside England World Cup winner Alex Hartley & BBC Sport cricket writer Ffion Wynne for reaction to England’s defeat to Australia in the first ODI of the Women’s Ashes in Sydney. They discuss the game being closer than the scorecard suggests, England not taking their chances, and Australia’s Alana King also reacts to the result.

Alyssa Healy’s stated ambition on the eve of this Women’s Ashes was to “throw the first punch”. Mission very much accomplished. England limped away from North Sydney on Sunday evening with a bloody nose,