England v Australia: preview

Date released: 2 July 2009

The double world-champions are back... England Women (50-over and 20-over title holders) take on their Australian counterparts on Tuesday 7 July at Lord's.

England Women lift the World T20 title at Lord's Tickets start at just £5 - to see eleven English world-champions that's a bargain!

England swept all before them en-route to winning the ICC World Twenty20 title at Lord's on 21 June.

Arguably their toughest match was against Australia in the semi-finals but even they caved in to England's relentless bowling and the batting prowess of Wisden Cricketer of the Year, Claire Taylor.

Sarah Taylor in the England T20 kit
- buy this shirt - £30 It's Taylor's namesake Sarah who has taken the batting headlines in this five match series so far. The wicket-keeper's run-a-ball 120 in the second match, at Chelmsford, pushed England's total beyond the Aussie's reach.

Captain Charlotte Edwards has been missing through injury but in her absence former MCC Young Cricketer (YCs), Nicky Shaw has lead the side brilliantly.

Like Edwards, Shaw has lead by example taking wickets (four in the first two matches of this series) and keeps the whole team on their toes in the field.

Shaw receives her 50th cap from Edwards at Lord's Two more former YCs are key parts of the England side: Beth Morgan and Caroline Atkins each falling agonisingly short of a half-century in the first and second matches respectively.

Atkins top-scored for England in the third match of the series which England also won - giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five match series.

England won't have it all their own way though. Their world-cup-winning bubble was well and truly burst when Australia beat them in a Twenty20 international - four days after the final at Lord's.

Opener (and spin bowler) Shelley Nitschke was picked in the ICC World T20 'team of the tournament' and her big-hitting batting poses a real threat.

Another spinning all-rounder, Lisa Sthalekar is one to watch in the green and gold. She took a clutch of wickets in the World T20 and her flamboyant batting, usually at number three, can rapidly accelerate the run-rate.

It's sure to be a great all-action occasion at Lord's - hopefully with another England win - make sure you're here to see it.