One home Test each summer, dedicated windows for the WBBL and two other domestic competitions, and a standalone Ashes series. Here are some of the key takeaways for Australia Women in the new ICC Future Tours Programme.
Women’s and Men’s Ashes held separately
The Women’s Ashes has grown rapidly in recent years. Once played as random Tests, Cricket Australia and the ECB agreed to stage the first multi-format series in 2013, consisting of one Test, three One-Day Internationals and three T20 Internationals, held in the same summer as the Men’s Ashes.
The concept has proved to be popular with players and fans alike and the most recent Test, held at Manuka Oval in January, was a thrilling contest that ended in a draw on the final day.
But there has always been a sense that the women’s series is overshadowed by the men’s, which attracts far more publicity.
In the new FTP Australia and England women will play a multi-format Ashes series in January 2025, a summer that will not feature a series between the men’s side.
It’s one sign the women’s game is gaining traction and is now seen as a game that can stand on its own two feet.
“There’s an equal argument to say that having women in the same year as the men doesn’t give the men’s Ashes its due because the women’s has grown so quickly,” said Peter Roach, Cricket Australia’s Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling. “So separating the two means means we’ve got two Ashes series across four years, which is doubling what we’ve had historically.
“So we think it’s a really good thing. We think the multi-format series works. We really want to focus on trying to make that January-February window a time when the multi-format series comes to life, as a marquee series, freeing ourselves up of the men’s cricket crier.
“We think it’s a terrific opportunity to get the spotlight to the women’s game.”
Multi a winning bet but Australia keen for another Test partner
Australia hosted both India and England for multi-format series last summer, giving women’s internationals an enormous boost with two Tests and 14 matches overall.
But the scenario won’t be repeated in the upcoming FTP. Australia will host one series each summer in the January-February period, starting with South Africa in the summer of 2023-2024.
The Ashes follow in the following summer and India return in 2025-2026.
The addition of South Africa to the list of countries playing Test cricket – they recently played a multi-format series in England – is encouraging, but Cricket Australia are still looking for another country willing to play a multi-format series in 2026-2027.
To date, no other board has expressed a willingness to invest in women’s Tests, including New Zealand, who last played a Test in 2004. This will undoubtedly frustrate the New Zealand players, who are desperate to play in the longest form of the game.
For now, CA are leaving the door open.
“What we know is that we’ve got some time and the women’s game is evolving really quickly,” said Roach. “And we don’t know what 26-27 is going to look like, but we know there are teams making some great strides and we know there are teams going through an evolution over their own.
“New Zealand is the obvious …….