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England's chances
England's chances of regaining the Women's Ashes are even slimmer after having to toil on the opening day of the Test match at Taunton.
Needing to win this game to keep the series alive, they watched as Australia racked up a formidable-looking 265-3.
Ellyse Perry top scored with 84, as she shared an unbroken partnership of 105 with Rachael Haynes, who is on 54.
With bad weather forecast for Friday, England will need something special to force a victory from this position.
Perspiration but no inspiration as Ashes slip further away for England
Having picked three spinners, England captain Heather Knight would have wanted to win the toss and bat in order to force the game. Instead Australia got the chance to make first use of the wicket, forcing England to find something special to turn things in their favour.
Katherine Brunt bowled the out-of-form Nicole Bolton in a good opening spell from the Yorkshire pacer, but it was not backed up as more than 60% of Australia's runs came in boundaries and many of those gifted by loose deliveries.
A second wicket arrived through Scotland-born youngster Kirstie Gordon who impressed in a warm-up game but came into this match having never played a four-day game. The wicket of Alyssa Healy, bowled for 54, was a special moment, especially for parents Fiona and John, who had driven 10 hours down from Scotland to see their daughter make her Test debut.
It was a day when everything needed to go England's way, but there were too many slips in front of a good crowd of over 2,000 at Somerset's home ground.
Knight dropped opposite number Meg Lanning just before lunch when she was on 26, a costly error with Lanning eventually out for 57, while a host of close lbw shouts also went against England.
On a challenging day, England also had to contend with injury concerns - left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone spent a period off the field after falling on her shoulder while opener Tammy Beaumont suffered a blow to the thumb and was left awaiting the result of an X-ray to assess the damage.
