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| Ashes Women's series | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ashes Women's series |
| Sport | Cricket |
| Inaugural | 1934–35 |
| Administrator | International Cricket Council |
| Format | Test cricket, One Day International, Twenty20 International |
| Current champion | Australia |
| Most successful | England; Australia |
Ashes Women's series is a biennial cricket contest contested between the women's national teams of Australia and England. Originating in the 1930s, the rivalry mirrors the men's The Ashes heritage and has featured formats including Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is. The series has been staged across venues in Australia and England, with fixtures integrated into bilateral tours, multi-nation tournaments, and festival matches at historic grounds.
The inaugural encounters were arranged during tours by England to Australia in 1934–35 and by Australia to England in 1937. Early series involved tours organized by associations such as the Women's Cricket Association and later by governing bodies including Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Post-war fixtures resumed alongside growth in women's sport highlighted by events like the Women's Cricket World Cup and the professionalization drives of the 1990s and 2000s led by administrators from ICC member boards. Iconic players such as Mignon du Preez, Charlotte Edwards, Belinda Clark, Ellyse Perry, Diana Baig, Mary Duggan and Mithali Raj—though some never played this fixture—reflect the global context that influenced selection, preparation, and public interest.
Matches have been played under Marylebone Cricket Club-originated Laws of Cricket as adapted for women's internationals by the International Cricket Council. Traditionally, the series incorporated multi-day Test cricket matches of four days' duration, complemented by limited-overs matches: 50-over Women's One Day International contests and 20-over Women's Twenty20 International fixtures. Playing conditions reference equipment sanctioned by International Cricket Council regulations, with match officials drawn from panels overseen by ICC Umpires and Referees. Points systems and trophy allocation have varied over time, with some editions determining the winner via aggregate results and others via a designated trophy holder rule following the precedent of The Ashes.
Selection policies have been administered by the national selectors of Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board, with player pathways influenced by domestic competitions like the Women's National Cricket League and the Kia Super League. Matches have been staged at major venues including Lord's, The Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney Cricket Ground, Edgbaston, Adelaide Oval, Headingley, and regional grounds across Tasmania, Western Australia, Sussex, and Yorkshire. Touring squads often included players from domestic clubs represented in leagues such as Women's Big Bash League and international transfers involving teams like Surrey Stars and Sydney Sixers.
Memorable contests include close finishes driven by performances from stars like Katherine Brunt, Heather Knight, Meg Lanning, Sarah Taylor, Lisa Sthalekar, and Anya Shrubsole. Iconic moments have occurred at Lord's during festival fixtures, at MCG during milestone attendance matches, and in deciders where Ellyse Perry and Jacqueline Court-era contemporaries swung the result. Series that featured decisive comebacks, record partnerships, and match-winning bowling figures have been recounted alongside parallel highlights from tournaments such as the ICC Women's Championship and the Women's Ashes 2013 edition that combined formats to determine an overall winner.
Career and series records reflect leading run-scorers, wicket-takers, and all-rounders. Leading figures historically associated with the fixture include prolific batters with centuries and double-centuries at venues like The Oval and SCG, and bowlers who achieved five-wicket hauls and ten-wicket match figures. Statistical compilations reference databases maintained by organizations such as ESPNcricinfo and national statistical offices of Cricket Australia and ECB; records cover strike rates, economy rates, partnership records, and fielding milestones including catches and dismissals by wicketkeepers who have represented Australia and England.
Broadcast rights have been negotiated with television and streaming partners including public-service broadcasters and commercial networks such as ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Sky Sports, and digital platforms operated by Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Coverage expanded with the advent of live streaming, dedicated women's sport programming, and highlight packages on sports channels and social media accounts operated by national boards. Commentary teams have included former internationals and journalists from outlets like BBC Sport, Nine Network, Fox Sports Australia, and global sports agencies covering match reports and analysis.
The series has contributed to the professionalization of women's cricket, influencing policy at the International Cricket Council, investment by Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the growth of domestic competitions such as the Women's Big Bash League and the Kia Super League. It has inspired generations of cricketers who progressed through pathways connected to institutions like National Cricket Performance Centre programs and grassroots clubs affiliated with Marylebone Cricket Club initiatives. Cultural milestones include increased attendance, sponsorship by corporate partners, and the recognition of female athletes in national sporting honors and halls of fame such as the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
Category:Women's international cricket competitions