IT is a big week for women’s cricket fans with the 2023 Women’s Ashes kicking off.
Starting tomorrow in Nottingham, the series begins with the sole test match before it moves into the T20s and One Day International sections.
That test match will bring some history with it, with the match finally being the full five days in length as opposed to the more traditional four days women’s tests have been in the past.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the women’s series, it works a little differently to the men’s series. For one thing, it is a multi format series, with one test, three One Day Internationals and three T20s. Each team gets points for winning an individual match – four points for the test and two points per limited overs match – with the country with the highest score at the end to win the Ashes.
Australia have won three out of the last four series (with the 2017 series drawn) so the Aussies have headed over to England with no desire to end that streak against the old enemy.
Both sides have their well known veterans, with a few newbies on the verge of their first Ashes campaign.
Although the Aussies are missing skipper Meg Lanning, they still have experienced heads Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry.
There are also two Ashes debutants among the squad, with top order batter turned substitute wicket keeper Phoebe Litchfield and former Irish star turned Aussie Kim Garth both pushing to make their Ashes debuts this series.
On the flipside, the hosts will once again by led by veteran Heather Knight, backed by veterans Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt. But they too have some new faces the enemy have not faced, with Alice Davidson-Richards, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson and Emma Lamb all in contention for an Ashes debut.
Fans in Australia can watch the series on Channel Nine.
Ashes Squads
Australia
Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham
England
Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt
Women’s Ashes Fixture 2023
Test: June 22-26 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 11am local (8pm AEST)
First T20I: July 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, 6.35pm (3.35am July 2 AEST)
Second T20I: July 5 at The Oval, London, 6pm (3am July 6 AEST)
Third T20I: July 8 at Lord’s, London, 6.35pm (3.35am July 9 AEST)
First ODI: July 12 at The County Ground, Bristol, 1pm (10pm AEST)
Second ODI: July 16 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, 11am (8pm AEST)
Third ODI: July 18 at The County Ground, Taunton, 1pm (10pm AEST)