Just a stone’s throw from a highly anticipated Ashes showdown, the cricketing stage is set for Heather Knight’s England squad and the Australian team, captained by Alyssa Healy, to pen a new chapter in women’s cricket. The groundbreaking five-day Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham marks the commencement of the Women’s Ashes. With Australia’s iconic captain, Meg Lanning, bowing out of the tour for personal health reasons, the English side finds themselves in a promising position to recapture the illustrious trophy on home turf for the first time since their overseas victory in the 2013-14 tour.
The return of India and South Africa to the Test landscape has seen a number of games in the past half-decade hampered by weather disruptions, resulting in an unsatisfactory number of draws in the women’s red-ball face-offs. The ECB, noting this trend, has instigated a shift towards the traditional five-day Ashes Test format. Alongside this, England has swapped the conventional Kookaburra ball for a Dukes ball, potentially tipping the balance in their favour. Notably, England hasn’t tasted victory against Australia in any format since the non-impact final T20I of the 2019 Ashes.
Shifting the spotlight to the players…
It’s not only Australia who’ve been dealt a challenging hand even before a ball has been bowled. England find themselves navigating fresh waters following the departure of stalwarts Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Sciver-Brunt in recent months. The mantle of leading the greenhorn pace attack now rests on the shoulders of Kate Cross. Sharing the frontline duties with her may be rookie Lauren Filer, who has made an impression with her talent for swinging the Dukes ball, securing her selection over Issy Wong in England’s playing eleven. White-ball maestro Danni Wyatt is set to mark her Test debut, although her position, whether opening or mid-order, is yet to be revealed.
The real intrigue, however, lies in England’s invigorated ‘forceful brand of cricket’ under the guidance of new head coach Jon Lewis, who assumed command last December. Knight, in a discussion with the ECB during the first men’s Ashes Test in Birmingham, acknowledged the influence of ‘Bazball’ on their team ethos and gaining motivation from the men’s team approach. Knight dubbed this “Jonball”, emphasising England’s role as “disruptors” to curb Australia’s prolonged supremacy. This strategy may not have quite paid off in the 2023 T20 World Cup, where they were ousted by the hosting South African team in the semifinals, but England remain dedicated to their revitalised gameplay, infusing a fresh competitive spirit into this imminent clash with the ‘habitual champions’.
Healy, who worked alongside Lewis at UP Warriorz during the inaugural Women’s Premier League this year, will undoubtedly be prepared for whatever the hosts can offer. No stranger to leadership, Healy has hinted at stepping back from the opening batsman role to better manage her multifaceted duties. The coveted position may likely be filled by young batting prodigy Phoebe Litchfield, who’s expected to make her Test debut for Australia on this tour. Beth Mooney, having scored a spectacular century in the warm-up game, is also confirmed in the lineup. Furthermore, former Irish cricket star Kim Garth could potentially make her debut for Australia, while Georgia Wareham might make a long-awaited return to the longer format after a two-year injury hiatus.
This multi-format series kicks off with the landmark Test on Thursday (June 22), followed by three ODIs, the points from which will contribute to the ongoing 2022-25 Women’s ODI Championship (IWC), and an equal number of T20Is will complete the series, setting the stage for the forthcoming World Cup in Bangladesh next year. The cumulative points from these seven fixtures will be pivotal in determining whether Australia – presently holding every conceivable honour in the women’s cricket world – can maintain their trophy streak for an unprecedented fifth time in a row.
The teams are as follows:
For England’s Test squad, we have Heather Knight leading as the captain, with Natalie Sciver-Brunt as vice-captain. Joining them will be Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Amy Jones as wicket-keeper, Emma Lamb, Issy Wong, and Danielle Wyatt.
Representing Australia are Alyssa Healy, both captain and wicket-keeper, and Tahlia McGrath as vice-captain. The squad is completed by Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, and Georgia Wareham.
With this diverse array of talent in both teams, cricket lovers around the globe can look forward to a captivating and electrifying series of matches that promise to shape the future of women’s cricket, adding yet another glorious chapter to the legacy of the Ashes. So, whether you’re an ardent fan or a casual observer, prepare to be enthralled by the power and panache that these remarkable athletes are set to display on the pitch. Let the games begin!
