impresses

Beever-Jones was a threat against Australia almost immediately as she came inches from getting on the end of a Beth Mead cross after just three minutes.

She was offside when she lobbed goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold minutes later, but finally got on the scoresheet when Russo was brought down by Alanna Kennedy – the Australia defender receiving a red card – and Beever-Jones netted from the resulting free-kick.

The 22-year-old continued to cause problems before she was forced off prematurely, picking up a knock with less than 10 minutes left.

“She was so bright. She was making really good runs and making herself a nuisance,” said former England defender Anita Asante on ITV.

“She was also asking questions of Sarina because I’m sure she wants to play every single minute she can for England.”

Beever-Jones only played 74 minutes during their success in Switzerland, coming off the bench twice and starting once – an experience which taught her how to react to the disappointment of not being selected and how to manage those emotions.

“I’m always a believer in timing. I look back to the Euros and yeah, I wish I could have played more, I wish I could have helped more,” she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But for me, as soon as it ended I thought, ‘right, go back to my club, smash it, do what you can do and hit the ground running’.”

Beever-Jones did just that and has scored four goals in six WSL matches, leading to many calling for her to start this week’s friendlies.

She played 27 minutes as a second-half substitute in Saturday’s defeat by Brazil, but Wiegman gave her the opportunity against Australia out wide and was pleased with what she saw.

“[Beever-Jones and Russo] have played together before. I think we have three players who can play at centre-forward and all three are good and very different,” said Wiegman.

“Aggie can also play on the sides. That is what you saw today, that she is very agile and quick with the ball which can help the team.”

Chelsea team-mate Ellie Carpenter was part of the opposition’s backline and aware of Beever-Jones’ threat.

She has taken on the regular number nine spot at Chelsea with Australia forward Sam Kerr still returning to full fitness and an injury to Mayra Ramirez.

Former England striker Ian Wright told ITV that Beever-Jones has “the right attitude” by taking her opportunities and waiting patiently for them.

“She can play in the nine and also out wide. She has every attribute to be a world-class striker,” club-mate Carpenter added.

“She is hard to defend against. I’m happy for her that she got more minutes tonight and has shown why she can be a regular starter for England.”

Most eyes are, understandably, on the Ashes rather than this series.

It should not be forgotten, however, that this was the first of only six T20s England have before the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka begins in February.

While Bethell, who flickered in striking a fine straight six before falling to a top edge for 15, can press their case to play against Australia, Curran is one of those with the most to gain before the World Cup.

The 27-year-old was picked for the first time in any format under coach Brendon McCullum last month and offers a second seam-bowling option in the batting-heavy side Brook’s England favour.

Having seen Bethell, Buttler, who made 29, Jordan Cox and Tom Banton tamely chip catches into the air on a surface that nipped for the quick bowlers and held for the spinners, Curran was fortunate to be dropped on 14 by bowler Jacob Duffy and at deep extra cover by Tim Robinson when he had 26. Both were straightforward chances.

While at no point did Curran find his best batting rhythm, he remained calm to power the impressive left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner for one six over long-off and flicked a full toss over square leg in a final over from which he took seamer Duffy for 19.

This match will not last long in the memory, but Curran at least took advantage of what limited opportunity he was given.

Match of the Day’s Wayne Rooney says new Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens “did a lot of good things” in his debut for the club during their 2-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League.

WATCH MORE: Man Utd beat Sunderland to ease pressure on Amorim

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American Pegula has an excellent record in Canada – she was on an 11-match winning run in Montreal.

But she was shocked by world number 386 Sevastova who, like Osaka, returned from maternity leave in early 2024.

This was the 35-year-old’s first win over an opponent ranked in the WTA top five since beating Karolina Pliskova in 2017.

There was no hint of an upset when Pegula broke her in the opening game and again to love to claim the first set.

But a forehand winner earned Sevastova a break for a 5-4 lead in the second set and she denied Pegula three chances to break for a crucial hold to force a decider.

And when Pegula sent a down-the-line forehand wide to surrender a break and hand Sevastova a 2-1 lead, the Latvian did not let the momentum go.

She swept up the remaining games, including two further breaks, to claim a remarkable win in one hour and 41 minutes.

“It was a weird match for me,” said Pegula. “I felt like I had total control and then I just played a couple of terrible games for, like three games.

“That totally flipped the momentum of the match, and I went from being up a set and 2-0 to being down very quickly.

“I don’t really feel like I’m playing great tennis. At times I am, but I feel very up and down, kind of sloppy, which I don’t like. I’ve got to figure it out.”

Former England captain Alastair Cook believes Ollie Pope showed admirable control in the century that helped guide his side to 209-3 – trailing India by 262 runs – at the end of the second day of the first Test at Headingley.

MATCH REPORT: England v India first Test – day two

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