Players from Australia and England have called for future multi-format Women’s Ashes series to include three Test matches, but while it is unlikely that will become a reality, it is certainly possible within the next four years.
The upcoming series will see the four-day one-off Test played under the floodlights at the MCG as the final match of the Ashes for the first time since its introduction in 2013. This match is worth 4 points. Wins and draws mean one side may be in a position where they know they can win the series just by avoiding a loss.
Gardner, who scored an 8 out of 66 in the last Ashes test, said: “From a workload standpoint, it’s going to be pretty tough with how busy our summer is, but personally I’d like to see a 3, 3, 3.” , said. “Obviously the tour is going to be a lot longer (and) I’m not sure where we’ll fit in, knowing we’ll still have to compete overseas. It’ll be interesting to watch over the next four tournaments and up to year five when it gets there.
“But I know personally I’d like to play more Test cricket against England. Playing Test cricket sometimes feels a bit novel. We’ve definitely had some really good white-ball performances against England and other countries around the world. We have it, but the way our team plays, it’s going to be a really great Test series to see who comes out on top, but don’t expect that to change any time soon.”
“Space on the calendar is a real challenge. What I’d like to see is more countries playing multi-format series more regularly.”
Nick Hockley
“Of course I completely agree with Ash,” she said. “I want to see three, three, three. The best thing about the Ashes is the narrative, the rivalry and the way it builds over time. As you saw in the India-Australia men’s Test series, the narrative is made up of five things: the match series; Even in a three-match series, whether it’s like (Jasprit) Bumrah getting the same guy out all the time, as an opening batsman, that’s one of the reasons why you love the game, that battle, trying to get one-up on the opening bowler, in Test cricket. much more in I think it creates a lot, so I love wearing white and would like to see more of that.”
“Scheduling space is a real challenge,” outgoing Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said. “What I’d like to see is more countries playing multi-format series more regularly.”
The next FTP sees the Women’s Premier League (WPL) move to January. That means this Ashes series will be the last time for at least four years that Australia will be able to play during the key summer holiday period, with the main international block moving to February. And March.
“This is a very important series for us,” Gardner said. “The Ashes is usually part of such a big series, I think, right after the World Cup. We’ve been very successful over the last five or six years. It’s probably just one part of our game. We can’t see as many people as we want. I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t do it.
“Obviously, after hosting the T20 World Cup five years ago and almost selling out the MCG, COVID-19 has probably played a role in undermining the course of Australian cricket… but fingers crossed after a fairly successful men’s Test series, we’re looking forward to the best They can come and support our series as well because they are up against fierce rivals and they have just faced them.”
