Tag: Women’s Ashes

Former Pakistan international cricketer Usman Qadir is all set to be part of the Women’s Ashes Test celebrations at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Qadir, who has retired from international cricket for Pakistan recently and now resides in Australia, will attend the Test to support and promote the women’s game as part of Cricket Australia’s (CA) special programs for the event.

The Women’s Ashes Test, scheduled to start on January 30, promises to be a vibrant celebration of cricket.

Cricket Australia (CA) has invited several notable personalities, including Usman Qadir, former Sri Lankan women’s captain Shashikala Siriwardene, and Melbourne Renegades player Ruwantha Kellopatha, to enhance the atmosphere and bring a global flavor to the festivities.

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In addition to these prominent figures, various community groups and fan collectives will add their energy to the event.

The stands will come alive with performances from Sri Lanka’s Papare Band, England’s Barmy Army, and a Pakistani group led by Tariq Naveed, who made waves by purchasing 850 tickets for a Brisbane T20I last year.

Day one of the Test will highlight enthusiastic fan participation, while day three is expected to draw the largest crowd, with over 1,000 fans dressed in full fan gear, led by the Ryan and Tony Podcast group.

The 31-year-old leg-spinner, son of the legendary Abdul Qadir, played one ODI and 25 T20Is for Pakistan, claiming 32 international wickets.

After shifting to Australia, Qadir has continued to showcase his talent with the Hawkesbury Club in Sydney. He had previously played in the Big Bash League (BBL) with Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder.

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Australia women’s captain Alyssa Healy has expressed her excitement for the upcoming first-ever day-night Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Healy and vice-captain Tahlia McGrath were at the MCG last night to mark six months to go until Australia and England play in the day-night Women’s Ashes Test between January 30 – February 2, 2025.

The match coincides with the 90th anniversary of the first-ever women’s Test Match at the MCG, which was the third Test of the Australia-England series in 1934-35.

“We can’t wait to play the first-ever day-night Test at MCG. It’s going to be a special occasion as we honour the 90th anniversary of the first women’s Test series under lights at this iconic venue,” said Alyssa Healy.

“We are preparing for a big summer including the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, white ball series at home against New Zealand and India culminating with the multi-format Ashes series. We hope the Australian fans get behind us as we take on some tough rivals this summer.”

CEO of Cricket Australia (CA) Nick Hockley also called it a historic occasion, while also praising the national women’s team.

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“It’s amazing to think that in just six months our brilliant Australian Women’s team will light up the MCG for the historic first day-night Test at the world-renowned venue,” said Nick Hockley.

“The Women’s Ashes will not only be a great sporting event between fierce rivals, it will add to the list of iconic sporting events held in Melbourne and I’m grateful to the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club for their strong support.

“Our women’s team is one of the most successful in sporting history and this series promises to be a landmark occasion for Australian sport.”

“The MCG hosted the first-ever international Test Match in 1877, the first-ever One-Day International match in 1971 and saw over 86,000 for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final between Australia and India in 2020,” said Melbourne Cricket Club, manager of the MCG, CEO Stuart Fox.

“Now we have the opportunity to host our first-ever day-night Test which is sure to become another important moment in the MCG’s storied history.

“It is extremely special that this milestone falls with a Women’s Ashes Test, a series beloved at the MCG, and while marking the 90th anniversary of hosting our first Women’s Test.”

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LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday, announced the T20I squad for their remaining Women’s Ashes fixtures against Australia.

Unlike Men’s Ashes, this year’s Women’s Ashes is a multi-format series consisting of a one-off Test, three T20Is, and three ODIs.

The Test carries four points, while the T20Is and ODIs each carry two points. Australia won the one-off Test at Nottingham by 89 runs.

All-rounder Danielle Gibson, who was in travelling reserves for the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has received her first full IT20 call-up after being named in England’s Test squad for Women’s Ashes.

Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn and Lauren Winfield-Hill, who were all part of the squad for the T20 World Cup in February, are among the 16 names selected.

Issy Wong is recalled after missing out on selection for the World Cup and featuring in the recent England Women A T20 matches against Australia A.

Heather Knight’s side will start their limited-over Ashes campaign against Australia on Saturday (July 1).

Head coach Jon Lewis said: “We’re really looking forward to our IT20s in the next part of our Ashes Series.

“Danielle Gibson is selected for the first time in our IT20 squad, she is in great form at regional level and has the potential to impact the game whenever she is called upon.

“Issy Wong returns to the T20 squad after her success in the Women’s Premier League with Mumbai Indians, it will be exciting to see how she has progressed and grown from those experiences.

“We look forward to playing these three matches and putting on a show for everyone to enjoy.”

England Women’s T20I Squad: Heather Knight (c),  Nat Sciver-Brunt (vc), Lauren Bell, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Issy Wong, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danielle Wyatt.

Women’s Ashes Fixtures

Saturday, July 1: First T20I, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Wednesday, July 5: Second T20I, The Kia Oval, London
Saturday, July 8: Third T20I, Lord’s, London

Wednesday, 12 July: First ODI, Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Sunday, 16 July: Second ODI, Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Tuesday, 18 July: Third ODI, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.

READ: Mitchell Starc returns to Australia’s Playing XI for second Ashes Test

Ashleigh Gardner took eight wickets in England’s second innings as Australia’s women secured victory in the one-off Ashes Test match by 89 runs on Monday.

Chasing the highest run chase in women’s Test history of 268 to win, England were all out for 178 as Ashleigh Gardner took all five wickets to fall on the final day.

Defeat at Trent Bridge gives England a mountain to climb if they are to reclaim the Ashes.

Australia’s Women’s Ashes win is worth four points in the multi-format series with three one-day internationals and T20 matches to come, each worth two points.

The Australians are world champions in both white-ball formats and also proved just too good with the red ball after a tight contest that went all five days in front of record crowds for a women’s Test in England.

Ashleigh Gardner’s three wickets towards the end of play on Sunday left England up against it at 116-5 overnight.

The hosts added 25 to their tally before Kate Cross edged behind off Gardner.

Amy Jones added just four before she was stumped but Danni Wyatt’s half-century got the target down to double figures with three wickets still in hand.

However, those final three wickets fell for just three runs as Gardner removed Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer and Wyatt for figures of 8-66 in the innings and 12-165 in the match.

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Ashleigh Gardner left England in a spin to give Australia the advantage in the lone Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Ashleigh Gardner captured three top-order wickets as England reached the close of Sunday’s fourth day on 116-5.

That left England needing a further 152 to reach a victory target of 268 on Monday’s final day.

Australia require just five more wickets having removed England’s top order, several of whom — including first-innings double-century maker Tammy Beaumont — succumbed to Gardner as the off-spinner returned  3-33 in nine overs.

Ashleigh Gardner, 26, also dismissed star all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt and England captain Heather Knight before stumps.

“Ash has been amazing. Her off-spin bowling has been great,” Australia opener Beth Mooney, who top-scored with 85 in the Ashes-holders second-innings 257, told the BBC.

“She’s an absolute game-changer for us.”

Earlier, England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone took her second five-wicket haul of the Test to finish with the remarkable match figures of 10-192 from 77.1 overs.

But she could only watch as England suffered a top-order collapse, with four wickets lost in 29 balls as her side slumped to 73-4.

England will look to Danni Wyatt (20 not out) and nightwatch Kate Cross (five not out).

“We have to believe we can win tomorrow,” Ecclestone told Sky Sports. “I think if I hit the winning runs that will top it off! We need Kate Cross and Danni Wyatt to keep batting.”

She added: “Hopefully we can put Australia under pressure and go at them.”

Unlike the ongoing five-Test men’s Ashes, the women’s series is a multi-format contest.

Victory in the Test is worth four points, and a win in each of the three subsequent three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s two points, with Australia the world champions in both white-ball formats.

Emma Lamb and Beaumont, whose 208 in the first innings was the highest individual Test score for England Women, made a solid start to the chase.

But the introduction of Ashleigh Gardner turned the tide in Australia’s favour.

Gardner had Beaumont nicking to slip for 22 and Sciver-Brunt top-edging to short leg before removing the experienced Knight, lbw for just nine, with a sharply turning delivery.

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Tammy Beaumont hit an unbeaten 100 as England reached 218-2 at the close of the second day’s play to leave the one-off women’s Test against Australia delicately poised at Trent Bridge on Friday.

Earlier, Annabel Sutherland hit 137 not out as Australia were bowled out for 473.

But the visitors hopes of taking a sizeable first innings lead were halted by Beaumont, who became just the fourth England player in either the men’s or women’s game to score an international century in Test, one day and T20 cricket.

“I think it’s finely balanced. I think it’s a very good batting wicket, if two people get in it’s very hard to get them out,” said Beaumont.

“I don’t think I batted my best, I was stubborn, which (captain) Heather Knight has called me for years.”

Aussie all-rounder Sutherland continued her fine match with the ball as she took the wicket of Emma Lamb for 10.

But after Knight departed for 57, a partnership of 67 between Natalie Sciver-Brunt (41 not out) and Beaumont kept the hosts in the match.

Australia resumed on 328-7 overnight and tailenders Alana King (21) and Kim Garth (22) did their bit to aid Sutherland in posting the sixth-highest total in the history of women’s Test cricket.

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone took 5-129 in 46.2 overs, her first five-wicket haul in Tests.

The five-day match is part of a multi-format Ashes series including three Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals.

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Australia’s Ellyse Perry hit an eye-catching 99 before Sophie Ecclestone led England’s fightback on the first day of the women’s Ashes on Thursday.

Ellyse Perry was Australia’s driving force as the tourists reached 328-7 at close of play in the lone Test of the multi-format series at Trent Bridge.

In the biggest moment of a dramatic day, Perry overturned an lbw verdict off Lauren Filer’s first ball at the international level.

Ellyse Perry, who had scored only 10 at the time, went on to reach her fifth 50-plus score in 10 Tests against England.

Just as Australia looked set to take a stranglehold on the lone women’s Ashes Test, Ecclestone dismissed Jess Jonassen and Australia captain Alyssa Healy, for a duck, in the same over.

Filer eventually claimed the prize scalp of Ellyse Perry as she eyed a century, while slow left-armer Ecclestone bowled Tahlia McGrath, who smashed 61 in a 119-run stand with Perry.

The women’s Ashes Test is worth four points in the series and will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals and three one-day internationals.

After the thrilling first men’s Test between England and Australia earlier this week, it was the women’s turn to seize the spotlight.

Trying to regain the urn for the first time since 2015, England were cheered on by an attendance of 5,545 — the largest crowd on a single day for a women’s Test in the country.

England captain Heather Knight, who promised to “entertain and inspire” on the eve of only the second five-day women’s Test in history, was attacking with her field settings after the hosts were asked to bowl.

But Australia, buoyed by their T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year, were in control at 226-3 before losing three wickets for 12 runs in the space of 24 balls to give England renewed hope.

Annabel Sutherland (39 not out) and Alana King (seven not out) will hope to blast Australia towards 400 when play resumes on Friday.

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