By Peter Moore
The glorious summer of 2023 not only sees the Ashes contested by the men but also the women who will be in action starting on Thursday when the Women’s Ashes 2023 gets underway in Nottingham with the 1st test.
The Women’s Ashes is a multi-format series, combining 20 over, 50 over and test cricket.
The series uses a points system, with a test victory worth four points, and each ODI and T20 win worth two points.
England are bidding to reclaim the Women’s Ashes after Australia’s convincing 12-4 victory in 2022.
After the opening test in Nottingham, the sides will move on to Edgbaston for the first T20I, followed by two further T20’s in London at the Oval and Lords, before three ODI’s starting in Bristol followed by a trip to Southampton and Taunton.
England have one just one of the last three Ashes series played on home soil since 2013 and have only won three of the 12 series hosted in England.
England last tasted victory during their 2013-14 tour when they were triumphant by 10-8.
Australia goes into the Ashes as heavy favourites as the current holders of the 50 over Women’s World Cup, the T20 World Cup and the Ashes, as well as winning the 2022 Commonwealth Games Gold medal.
England will be led by the experienced Heather Knight, who is normally suited to the longer format of the game.
Nat Sciver-Brunt has been named as vice-captain and excelled with the bat in last summer’s test against South Africa, hitting an unbeaten 169 at Taunton.
Wonderkid Alice Capsey has been selected in the squad on the back of some fine performances for her country. Just 18-year-old, she already looks the real deal as a batter along with her useful off breaks, she could prove a handful for the Aussies.
The experienced Kate Cross has been named. Has plenty of experience, having made her debut in 2014 against Australia in Perth where she had figures of 6-70.
24-year-old spinner Sophie Ecclestone will be keen to bounce back from her last test appearance against the old enemy when she returned figures of 1-142. However, she is a player that excels in white ball cricket and is regarded as the best in the world in T20Is.
There is also room for three debutants in the squad, with Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson and Danni Wyatt all looking to be handed their test cap.
With regular captain Meg Lanning out of the tour due to medical reasons, Australia will be led by Alyssa Healy.
The 33-year-old wicketkeeper was named Player of the Match in the 2020 T20 World Cup final but has generally struggled in red ball cricket.
Player of the series at the last Ashes, Tahlia McGrath has been named as vice-captain for the visitors, she is also currently ranked No.1 T20I batter in the world.
Australia possess one of the leading all-rounders in the world in Ashleigh Gardner. The 26-year-old was named Player of the Tournament in this year’s T20 World Cup and commanding an astonishing fee of £320,000at the Women’s Premier League auction.
Experienced batter Beth Mooney has been named in the Australian side and was recently named Player of the Match in this year’s T20 along with Ellyse Perry who was sensational with both bat and ball in the 2019 Ashes.
Australia’s leading wicket taker in Women’s T20Is Megan Schutt is in the party but hasn’t played a test match for four years.
Two other ladies have been selected in the squad with both Kim Grath and Grace Harris named, but neither have played any test cricket for their country.