NANTWICH mum Laura Newton is the latest England international to suffer defeat at the hands of the Aussies.

But it wasn't before the cricketer produced her best test bowling figures in the women's Ashes series in Brisbane, and took Australia's prize scalp.

Newton returned figures of three for 10 in six overs on Sunday as England skittled Australia out for just 78 on a second day that saw 19 wickets fall.

Having made 124 in their first innings of the first test, England had a chance of their first win over Australia since 1984 but saw it slip away as they slumped to 92 in their second innings.

Newton then failed to reproduce her match-winning bowling as Australia chased victory, only taking one wicket for 18 runs in five overs as the Aussies won by five wickets.

The 25-year-old was one of only four English players to make double figures in the second innings, with 11. In the first innings she scored five.

Laura's husband Richard is the North of England head coach in women's cricket.

He said: "I spoke to Laura after the second day and she was thrilled with her best bowling performance in a test.

"She took the wicket of Karen Rolton, who is to women's cricket what Tiger Woods is to golf.

"She is on a different level to the others on the world stage so it was great for Laura to get her out.

"England needed to get Rolton and Belinda Clark out early in the second innings, but they went on to score more than 40 runs each."

Richard's role in women's cricket doesn't extend to him being flown out to Australia to join his wife on the tour.

The couple recently moved to Nantwich with their children, one four-years-old the other 18 months. Laura is the only mother in the England touring team.

She has already played a one-day series on the six-week tour and will be there for another test match later this week.

Laura made her name on the international scene last summer when she was named Player of the Series against India.

During this she smashed her highest test score with the bat, scoring 98.