Welcome to this week’s news of British women in sport from around the world.

Cricket:

England’s women built on last week’s test victory with a convincing win in their first ODIon 19 January. They are now one win away from retaining the Ashes.

Australia batted first and made 209 in their 50 overs. Top scorer was Alex Blackwell with 82 not out. In response England stuttered and were 68-3 before Lydia Greenway with an unbeaten 69 and Arran Brindle on 63 took England to 210 after only 46.5 overs and a seven wicket win.

Netball:

England beat Jamaica 46-38 in a tight match at the International Netball Tri-Seriesat Wembley Arena on 17 January.

After a fantastic 2013 which saw them end ranked third in the world, England are looking to build up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year.

England centre, Serena Guthrie, is clearly excited by the prospect, and said, “We know we can be genuine contenders for a medal. We’ve always been a team dubbed for coming third and we’re definitely looking to break that historical, stereotyping thinking of England.”

They face the second ranked side, New Zealand, in the next match of the series at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park on Monday 20 January.

Cycling:

Two young British women have taken team sprint bronze at the first day of the track World Cupin Mexico.

Victoria Williamson, 20 and Dannielle Khan, 18, who was making her championship debut, took bronze against the French team.

Winter Sports:

Skeleton:

Lizzie Yarnold continued her storming season this week with a fourth World Cup goldin Austria. She now leads the world rankings and has won four golds, two silvers and a bronze during this World Cup season.

Yarnold finished 0.32 seconds ahead of the American Noelle Pikus-Pace.

She is now 225 points ahead of Pikus-Pace in the race for the overall gold medal. She now has only to finish at next week’s event in Germany to be guaranteed the overall gold.

Freestyle Skiing:

Katie Summerhayes finished second in the slopestyle at the World Cup in Gstaad this week.

She finished second to Germany’s Lisa Zimmerman. This was the last World Cup event before the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

Short –track Speed Skating:

Elise Christie came fourth in the 1500m at the short-track European Championshipsin Dresden on Friday 17 January.

Christie is a strong hope for a British medal at the Olympics next month. She will be competing in both the 1,000m (her preferred event) and the 1,500m.

The Euros are the last event before the Games take place.

Tennis:

Laura Robson and Heather Watson both lost in the first round of the Australian Openin Melbourne this week.

Robson’s was a disappointing defeat as she went down in straight sets 6-3 6-0 to 18th seed Kirsten Flipkens. It was Robson’s first tournament this year after a wrist injury and she was clearly rusty.

Watson can be more pleased with her match as she had already won through three rounds of qualifying to take her place in the first round proper. She lost 7-5 3-6 6-3 to 31st seed Daniela Hantuchova.

It was a strong performance from the 21 year-old who slipped to 121 in the world this year after contracting glandular fever.

Watson was upbeat about her game, and said, “Even though I might be dropping in the rankings, I’m not worried about that. I’ve had a good start to the year, I’ve improved as a player, and it’s been a positive few weeks.”

Football:

Wales Women’s team manager Jarmo Matikainenis to leave his post in March to return to his home in Finland. He has held the post since October 2010.

Matikainen is held in great regard and is credited with improving women’s football in Wales at all levels.

Wales are still trying to qualify for the World Cup in Canada in 2015 and the Welsh FA are currently in negotiation with Matkainen in the hope that he will remain involved with the senior side until the end of the qualifying campaign.

Speculation is already rife as to who will take over with current Welsh captain Jess Fishlock being mentioned as a possible successor.