Hussain sees mind games just starting in intriguing Women's Ashes battle

Speaking onThe ICC Review with host Sanjana Ganesan, former England men’s captain Nasser Hussain says that the result of the Test isn’t necessarily vital to the overall Ashes outcome, but will go a long way to deciding England’s fate.

England reached 218/2 at stumps on the second day at Trent Bridge in reply to Australia’s first innings of 473 and Hussain knows there is still plenty of time for either team to claim the victory.

“It will be tough because it’s mind games. There are still lots of points on offer, but we all know what a fantastic white-ball team Australia are. Commonwealth Games, 50-over and 20-over World Cups, they hold it all,” Hussain noted.

“It will be tough and it is an important five days and a draw will probably be taken out of the equation because of that fifth day.

“They can always come back, but mentally that’s the key. Having been beaten by Australia for a while, if they can win (the Test) that will be such a mental boost.”

England handed a debut in the Test to young pace bowler Lauren Filer, who very nearly picked up the scalp of Ellyse Perry with her very first delivery, only for an lbw decision to be overturned.

But Filer bowled fast throughout and did eventually get the scalp of Perry, which - along with her dismissal of Beth Mooney - showed that she has the talent to get world-class players out.

And Hussain feels that it’s a very encouraging sign for England that they have unearthed another young talent as they look to move into a new era for the team’s bowling attack.

“She bowled really well, she's got a yard of pace,” he said.

“Obviously Katherine Sciver-Brunt has retired, there’s no Anya Shrubsole, and they have been opening the bowling for England for a decade, they have been the equivalent of the (Stuart) Broad and (James) Anderson in the women's game.

“So England need someone. You’ve got Lauren Bell at the other end as well, you've got Izzy Wong coming through. So there's a bit of pace around, but I also thought Filer was very skilled.”

Annabel Sutherland starred in the first innings for Australia, coming in at number eight and hitting her maiden Test ton, ending unbeaten on 137*.

But it was the established star Perry who set the platform for Australia’s impressive total of 473, falling just one run short of her third century in the format.

The 32-year-old’s Test record is extraordinary, with her average of 77.36 being the second highest in the history of the Women’s game.

Annabel Sutherland announces herself with record-breaking ton

She also has the phenomenal record of 851 runs and counting in her 11 matches to-date, and Hussain said that even as an English fan he wanted her to get to triple figures at Trent Bridge.

“I would have loved her to get an Ashes century actually,” Hussain added.

“I don't think any England fan would have begrudged her one more run because that innings deserved a hundred.

“She's been brilliant. We've done ICC tournaments where we've seen her in 50-over World Cups. We've seen her reinvent herself in T20 cricket when her strike rate was dropping and the likes of Tahlia McGrath and everyone was coming through and their strike rates were going through the roof.

“She's always been an exceptional red-ball cricketer. With the ball she's been all over England, swinging that new ball at pace, and with the bat, technically she’s so gifted – the pull shot she plays, the drive, everything. She got every shot in the book.”