THE cricket world’s Wags will be rushing to their manicurists today after a nail-biting finish in the first Ashes’ Test match.

Australia edged a thriller – but England captain Ben Stokes has vowed to bounce back.

Both teams’ wives and girlfriends are bound to be watching – but who’s winning the style clash off the field?

Here Georgette Culley looks at which Wags pass the Test . . . 

Clare Stokes, teacher – wife of Ben Stokes captain

ALL-rounder Ben was just starting his cricketing career when he met Clare at a match between Lancashire and his side Durham at Manchester’s Old Trafford ground in 2010.

Nowadays 31-year-old Clare, who calls herself a “cricket widow”, is a primary school teacher and a constant source of support in his life.

They married in 2017, in front of Ben’s team-mates Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, Paul Collingwood and Joe Root.

They have two children – Layton, ten, and Libby, seven.

Carrie Root, mum, wife of Joe Root – batsman/bowler

THE Yorkshire lass is said to have met Joe in The Arc, a popular bar in Leeds where she used to work.

They quickly grew close and in 2016 the top-order batsman proposed to her before flying off for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Two years later they married in Joe’s home town of Sheffield in front of close friends and family.

Since then Carrie, 31, has been Joe’s rock and stood by him when he decided to step down as England captain last year.

They have two child-ren – Alfie and Isabella.

Paige Ogborne model – Partner of Ben Duckett, batsman

SINCE Paige met the left-handed batsman in 2018 she has often been at his games to support him.

While the 27-year-old model and influencer – who is also Head of Digital and Perform-ance Marketing at the Financial Times – likes to keep her Instagram account private, Ben often shares loved-up snaps of the couple.

They love luxurious trips to such places as Mexico and Dubai – but not exclusively.

Last March he posted a cute pic of them outside The Ship pub in South London and joked: “I’m captain of this ship.”

Lauren Rose, fashion designer – Partner of Ollie Robinson, bowler

THE couture queen is the ultimate cricket Wag and travels the world watching the England team on tour.

She often shares proud snaps supporting Ollie and posted pictures from Melbourne Cricket Ground during England’s last tour of Australia.

Lauren, 27, was also in New Zealand with Ollie in February, when the England team were playing two Tests.

The couple have been together for eight years and welcomed their daughter Sienna into the world in July 2020.

Mollie King pop singer, broadcaster – Fiancee of Stuart Broad

THE former singer is said to have met cricketer Stuart Broad through celebrity friends in 2017.

She had just finished fifth in Strictly Come Dancing and Stuart had just returned from The Ashes in Australia.

After five months together, the pair decided to split due to their ‘packed schedules’.

But they weren’t apart for long and welcomed their first daughter Annabella in November.

The Up singer, who is engaged to the 6’5 cricketer, shared the happy news to her million Instagram followers with a picture of Stuart kissing her belly.

She wrote: “Stuart and I are so so happy to share that we’re expecting a baby later this year! We’re absolutely over the moon.”

Mollie rose to fame as a singer in the pop group The Saturdays but today she presents BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop on Thursdays.

Dani Willis lawyer – wife of Steve Smith, batsman

In 2021, Dani opened up about her marriage with Aussie cricket superstar Steve Smith, saying communication is the key “no matter how mundane”.

The pair, who have been married for over ten years, had spent a large chunk of 2020 apart due to Steve’s cricket commitments.

Known for his aggressive batting style and power-hitting, Steve is a force to be reckoned with.

With 120,000 followers on Insta, Dani is a well-known cricket wag down under.

In 2018, the pair wed secretly at Bendooley Estates, a popular venue for glamorous weddings in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

She recently said they have “no intention” of starting a family anytime soon.

Dani is a former Swimmer and Water Polo Player and also a lawyer by profession.

Becky Boston interior designer – wife of Pat Cummins, captain

BRITISH-BORN Becky, 33, will have split loyalties, surely.

The Interior designer was born in Yorkshire, a hotbed for English cricket.

She married captain Pat Cummins in 2022, and they have a son, Albie.

In December, she posted an adorable snap of the three of them at Melbourne Cricket Club (MCG) and said: “Merry Christmas everyone. What a start to the day.”

She runs her own company, Becky Boston Designs and has more than 35k followers on instagram.

Jessica Davies model – wife of Travis Head, batsman

JESS is the glam wife of batting sensation Travis Head.

In April, the model shared a beautiful black and white picture from their wedding day and captioned it: “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life as your life, reminding you of how incredible you are.”

The 29-year-old thanked his wife after he returned to form after a stunning century against India in the World Test Championship.

Travis revealed his stable life contributed towards his brilliant innings – scoring 146 off just 156 balls.

He said: “I’m in a nice little period of my life off the field right now too and it’s all emerging into clarity and consistency in a very enjoyable team to play for.”

Emma Lyon fashionista – wife of Nathan Lyon, bowler

THE fashionista likes the finer things in life and recently flaunted a £5,500 Fendi Baguette handbag on a night out with pals.

In 2022, she married bowler Nathan Lyon after five years of dating.

Emma, 32, helped the spinner when he suffered an emotional low after a botched run-out saw the Aussies lose a 2019 Test at Headingley in Leeds.

“Making a mistake just proves we are human (but) it was pretty tough,” he said at the time.

“I was lucky enough to have Emma with me to help take my mind off things, and some family was there as well.

“It was just easy to talk to those guys and Em and make sure I could forget about Headingley as quickly as I could.”

Candice Warner TV star – wife of David Warner, batsman

WITH nearly half a million followers on Instagram, she is the most famous Aussie cricket Wag.

The former Ironwoman, 38, has been married to the former captain David Warner for eight years and shares three kids with him.

In 2007, she was caught on camera in the toilet of a Sydney hotel with rugby star Sonny Bill Williams.

In 2020, while starring in SAS Australia: Who Dares Wins she revealed how the drunken tryst continues to plague her.

She said: “It is something I am not proud of but something I can never take back.

“I put myself in a situation where I shouldn’t have and because of that I brought embarrassment (and) shame to my family.”