Highly anticipated Women’s Ashes 2025 series is set to begin on January 11, 2025, asst England travels to Australia to regain the prestigious trophy. This multi-format series promises to deliver exciting cricket, with both teams eager to prove their mettle after a closely contested previous edition.
The historic rivalry flared up again
The Women’s Ashes is not just a competition; it’s a legendary rivalry that has captivated fans for decades. The 2025 series marks a significant moment as it will feature the first women’s Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) since 1949, celebrating the 90th anniversary of women’s Test cricket. Australia currently hold the Ashes, maintaining their dominance since 2014, but England are determined to end this streak and win the title for the first time in over a decade.
Understanding Women’s Ashes Format
The format of the Women’s Ashes differs from its men’s counterpart, including a multi-format approach that includes:
- Three One Day Internationals (ODIs): Each win in this format earns the team two points.
- Three Twenty20 International (T20I): Similar to ODIs, wins in T20 matches also fetch two points.
- One four-day test match: This match is worth four points. In case of a tie, both teams get two points each.
This structure encourages teams to excel in different formats, making each game crucial in the quest for overall supremacy. The team with the most points at the end of the series will be declared the winner.
Teams with points to prove
Both Australia and England enter this series with something to prove. Australia, despite their historic success, felt let down after their performance in the last Ashes series in England, where they narrowly avoided defeat. They are determined to reassert their dominance. On the other hand, England are aiming to build on their recent success in the white-ball formats and end their long wait for an Ashes victory.
READ ALSO: Women’s Ashes 2025: Can England end their 10-year drought against Australia?
Australia’s best XI for Ashes ODIs against England
The upcoming Women’s Ashes series presents an excellent opportunity for the Australian women’s cricket team to showcase their talent and depth. Below is a detailed analysis of the best 11 from the squad for the series against England.
Alyssa Healy (c)
Role: Wicketkeeper-Batter
Strengths: Healy is known for her explosive batting at the top of the order and exceptional wicketkeeping skills. Her aggressive style can set the tone for the innings, making her a key player in ODIs.
Expectations: As the captain, she is expected to lead from the front, both in terms of the number of points scored and in terms of strategic decisions on the field.
Beth Mooney
Role: Dough
Strengths: Mooney is a versatile opener with solid technique and the ability to anchor the innings while also stepping up when needed. Her experience in high pressure situations provides significant value.
Expectations: Mooney will be expected to provide stability at the top and turn starts into big results, especially in key games against England.
Phoebe Litchfield
Role: Dough
Strengths: Litchfield showed promise with her aggressive batting style and ability to play spin well. Her youthful exuberance and adaptability make her a dynamic player.
Expectations: As a young talent, she is expected to take advantage of opportunities and contribute significantly in the middle order.
Tahlia McGrath (vc)
Role: Versatile
Strengths: McGrath brings balance to these all-rounders, excelling in both batting and bowling. He has a powerful batting style and can hit crucial overs.
Expectations: As vice-captain, she will be expected to support Healy in leadership while delivering impressive performances with bat and ball.
Ellyse Perry
Role: Versatile
Strengths: Perry is one of the most successful players in women’s cricket, known for her exceptional skills as a batsman and bowler. Her experience and versatility are an invaluable asset.
Expectations: Perry will be expected to perform consistently with bat and ball, especially at critical stages of matches.
Ashleigh Gardner
Role: Versatile
Strengths: Gardner is known for her powerful batting and effective off-spin bowling. She has a knack for winning wickets at key moments, while also being able to accelerate the scoring.
Expectations: With her ability to change the game quickly, Gardner is expected to be a winner in tight situations.
Annabel Sutherland
Role: Versatile
Strengths: Sutherland has proved to be a promising all-rounder with her ability to bowl medium pace and contribute valuable runs. Her athleticism also adds to her strength on the court.
Expectations: She is expected to provide depth in both batting and bowling, especially in the later stages of the innings.
Megan Schutt
Role: Bowler
Strengths: Schutt is one of Australia’s leading bowlers, known for her swing bowling and ability to take wickets in the powerplay over. Her experience adds depth to the bowling attack.
Expectations: Schutt is expected to lead the bowling attack effectively, aiming for early breakthroughs against England’s top order.
Darcie Brown
Role: Bowler
Strengths: Brown impressed with her pace bowling and bounce generating ability. Her youthfulness brings energy to the team.
Expectations: She will be expected to complement Schutt by providing pace options and taking wickets during key phases of the game.
Alana King
Role: Bowler
Strengths: King proved to be a skilled leg-spinner capable of turning matches around with her wicket-taking abilities. It can be especially effective on cornering lanes.
Expectations: King is expected to play a key role in the middle overs, aiming to stifle runs while taking vital wickets.
Georgia Wareham
Role: Bowler
Strengths: Wareham’s leg-spin adds variety to Australia’s bowling attack, along with her ability to take wickets in critical situations. Her field skills are also commendable.
Expectations: Wareham is expected to contribute significantly during the middle overs by putting pressure on the batsmen while looking for breakthroughs.
READ ALSO: Ashleigh Gardner and Tammy Beaumont are pushing for more Tests in the Women’s Ashes series
This article was first published on WomenCricket.comand Cricket times company.
