The Women's Ashes series this year is to be a stand-alone event while it was played alongside Men's Ashes to date. This would be a great opportunity for the Aussies' Women's team to make a mark in pulling the crowds to the stadium with their performances. The home advantage will come to their aid as well in this standalone tournament!
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
This Women's Ashes series in Australia, like the earlier editions, will be played across all three formats. The 3-match ODI series starts upfront followed by a 3-match T20I series and will be concluded by the one-off Test match. Each win would give a certain amount of points and the team with most number of points at the end of the series would be deemed as the winner of the Women's Ashes series!
As fas as the scheduling goes, the three ODIs will be played in North Sydney (Jan 12), Melbourne (Jan 14), and Hobart (Jan 17). The three T20Is will be played in Sydney (Jan 20), Canberra (Jan 23), and Adelaide (Jan 25) respectively. The one-off 4-day Test match will be a Day-Night affair that is to be played at the iconic MCG ground from 30th Jan.
Expansion of Format: There's a strong call among players for the Women's Ashes to expand its format. Ashleigh Gardner, an Australian allrounder, has advocated for the series to include three Test matches, alongside three ODIs and three T20Is. This sentiment is echoed by England's Tammy Beaumont, who believes expanding the series would allow for richer narratives and more engaging cricket, enhancing the rivalry between England and Australia.
Scheduling and Tradition: The Women's Ashes traditionally occurs alongside the men's series, but there's a move to give it its own space. This series in January 2025 will see the Test match at the MCG under floodlights, a first for the venue, marking an ambitious step towards establishing new traditions while expanding the series' profile. However, this shift also brings up concerns about the series' visibility and marketing, especially if it doesn't coincide with the men's series, potentially affecting viewership and attendance.
Public and Player Sentiment: There's a positive sentiment around the Women's Ashes, with recent series drawing significant crowds and interest, indicating a growing fan base. The calls for expansion are not just about more games but also about ensuring the series has a narrative depth that can captivate audiences over a longer period, similar to the men's series.
Future Considerations: While the expansion to three Tests per series seems to be a popular suggestion among players, logistical issues like calendar space pose challenges. The cricketing calendar is already packed, and adding more games would require strategic scheduling to avoid clashing with other international commitments.
In summary, the Women's Ashes Series is at a crossroads where tradition meets the demand for expansion. Players and fans alike are pushing for a more extensive series that could potentially elevate the status of women's cricket, although logistical and scheduling considerations will need to be addressed to realize this vision.
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