England have their eyes set on breaking an 11-year wait for Women’s Ashes glory over Australia when the series begins on Saturday night.
The hosts Australia continued their vice-like grip on the trophy after the thrilling 8-8 draw during the 2023 English summer.
The multi-format series – which has been used since 2013 – will start in Sydney before concluding with the first women’s Test to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground since 1949.
The Test has reverted to the regular length of four days after the two sides played across five days at Trent Bridge in 2023.
Both white-ball series will be played beforehand in a reversal of the last series that opened its curtains with the Test match.
This time, the red-ball contest will be the final act, but who will be holding the trophy aloft come February?
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Squad News
Australia have been the frontrunners in the women’s game for several years - a point firmly emphasised by the widespread shock when they exited the recent T20 World Cup at the Semi-Final stage.
The 13-time world champions and Commonwealth Games gold medallists are heading into the series with the familiar core of players that has brought them success.
Alyssa Healy will be captaining in her second Ashes and she will have the likes of Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt to call upon.
The recent emergence of batter Georgia Voll on the international scene has only served to further bolster a squad bursting at the seams with talent.
ODI Squad
Alyssa Healy (captain), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
T20 Squad
Alyssa Healy (captain), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.
Test Squad
To be named at a later date.
England will be hoping their mix of experience and youth combines to threaten the Australians as they did 18 months ago.
Heather Knight is into her 10th year as captain and many feel the end of the road is soon approaching, especially if another Ashes series escapes her clutches.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, who helped lead the fightback from 6-0 down in 2023, has continued her world-class form and alongside Danni Wyatt-Hodge, will be expected to do a lot of the heavy lifting with the bat.
Similar expectations will be placed at the door of the ICC’s number one ODI and T20 bowler, Sophie Ecclestone. The left-arm spinner notably became the second-youngest player to take a 10-wicket haul in women’s Test matches during the 2023 series.
There are significant injury concerns over Kate Cross though. The Lancashire seamer has been suffering from a back issue since the South Africa tour and had an epidural on Christmas Eve, but progress since has been slow.
ODI Squad
Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
T20 Squad
Heather Knight (captain), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Linsey Smith, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
Test Squad
Heather Knight (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Ryana MacDonald-Gay, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
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Key Players
Australia – Ellyse Perry
If you think of Australians who have inflicted pain on England in recent times, Steve Smith comes to mind but so does Ellyse Perry.
Her unbeaten double hundred in 2017 at the North Sydney Oval to go with three wickets in the match was a great demonstration of the all-rounder’s abilities.
She is not only the leading run scorer in Women’s Ashes history with 1,953 runs at an average of 54.25 to her name, but also the leading wicket-taker with 71 wickets and best figures of 7-22.
Perry’s last international century came as recently as December 8, which followed a Women’s Big Bash League campaign where she finished top of the run charts.
There are no signs the 34-year-old is slowing down in an international career that stretches back to 2007, and 2025 could see her dictate the outcome of another Ashes series.
England – Lauren Filer
Lauren Filer is still very much in the early knockings of her international career that began at the end of September 2023 against Sri Lanka.
But in the days, weeks and months since, she has often lit up the international stage and showed signs of the x-factor she offers to the England bowling attack.
This is a factor perfectly encapsulated in the recent Test match success against South Africa – England’s first Test win in 10 years.
The right-arm pace bowler only picked up three wickets across the two innings, but she played an integral role in unsettling the South Africa n batters and providing hostile support to her opening bowling partner Lauren Bell.
If Kate Cross misses significant portions of the series, then the two 24-year-old Laurens will be called upon to perform in her absence.
Filer offers a crucial point of difference, consistently topping the 70mph mark on pitches that are more often than not conducive to quick bowling.
The busy schedule means England may not have the Bristol-born seamer available all the time, but her contributions when available could shape the series.
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Series Details
Schedule
The schedule has come in from criticism from England coach Jon Lewis because of the condensed nature of the eight games the two sides will contest.
Three ODIs, three T20s and a four-day Test will all be played within the space of three weeks.
January 11: First ODI, North Sydney Oval (23:30 GMT)
January 13: Second ODI, CitiPower Centre, Melbourne (23:05 GMT)
January 15: Third ODI, Ninja Stadium, Hobart (23:05 GMT)
January 20: First T20, Sydney Cricket Ground (8:40 GMT)
January 23: Second T20, Manuka Oval, Canberra (8:40 GMT)
January 25: Third T20, Adelaide Oval (8:10 GMT)
January 30 – February 2: Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground (3:30 GMT)
How can I watch?
The series is available to watch in the UK on TNT Sports, who will be providing full coverage of the action down under.
Alternatively, there will be ball-by-ball radio commentary on BCC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
