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Sporting history is being made in our city this summer, with the return of the Women's Ashes. Our Southern Star gals are ranked as the number one team in the world right now, and now they'll take on the poms. It’s one of the biggest rivalries in sport – the Australia vs England Ashes contest – and the rivalry isn’t any less fierce when it comes to the Women’s Ashes. The Women’s Ashes started way back in the summer of 1934-1935 (though there was no trophy until 1998). Ninety years on, Australia is looking forward to hosting England for the 2025 multi-format Women’s Ashes series – with a range of seven different games held across the country, with two held right here in Melbourne. starting in Sydney on January 12, followed by games in Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide and Canberra, then culminating in a Test match at the MCG from January 30. So if you're keen to support our Aussie ladies and women's sport, read on for everything you need to know.
What’s the format of the Women’s Ashes?
Unlike the Men’s Ashes, which is a Test Series, the Women’s Ashes is made up of a series of different game formats. Including one-dayers and T20 games in the mix attracts a range of different audiences to the Women’s Ashes (read: not everyone is interested in Test cricket – the shorter formats open it up to other audiences). The 2025 Women’s Ashes will feature:
- 3 x ODIs (One Day International games – 50 overs for each team, played in one day)
- 3 x T20 games (Twenty20 games – 20 overs for each team, played over a few hours)
- 1 x Test match (unlimited overs day/night games, played over four days)
Are there Women's Ashes games in Melbourne?
Yes! There are two Women's Ashes 2025 matches being played in Melbourne – an ODI at CitiPower Centre on January 14 (starting at 10am), and the only Test match of the Ashes will be played in Melbourne from January 30 to February 2. The day/night Test will be the first women's Test to be played at the MCG since 1949.
What are the 2025 Women’s Ashes dates and locations?
- Jan 12: The first ODI will be held at North Sydney Oval
- Jan 14: The second ODI will be held at CitiPower Centre, Melbourne
- Jan 17: The third ODI will be held at Bellerive Oval, Hobart
- Jan 20: The first T20 match will be held at the SCG, Sydney
- Jan 23: The second T20 match will be held at Manuka Oval, Canberra
- Jan 25: The third T20 match will be held at Adelaide Oval
- Jan 30-Feb 2: The only Test match will be held at the MCG, Melbourne
What do Women’s Ashes 2025 tickets cost?
Women’s Ashes tickets are really affordable, so there’s no excuse not to show your support. For example, for the Test series at the MCG, the tickets start from $20 for adults and $5 for kids.
How to get tickets to the Women’s Ashes 2025
Grab your tickets to any of the Women's Ashes 2025 games over here.
How can you watch the Women’s Ashes 2025 on TV?
You will be able to watch major matches for free on Seven and 7plus, as well as Kayo.
Why is the Women’s Ashes Test match only four days?
The Women’s Ashes Test is slightly different to the Men’s version, played over four instead of five days. There is debate around whether women’s Tests should be played as four- or five-day games. Cricket Australia currently has a preference for four-day Tests, but there’s argument that the women haven’t played enough five-day Tests to be able to effectively compare whether four-day Tests are more likely to lead to a result (as opposed to a drawn game).
The four-day women's Tests have 100 overs per day – so the game is only 50 overs shorter overall than a traditional five-day Test with 90 overs per day.
How is the winner of the Women’s Ashes determined?
What if one team wins the Test series but the other teams win the other games? The Women’s Ashes is a points-based series. Each win gains a team points, and the team with the most points at the end of the series takes home the trophy.
Wins in the ODI and T20 games earn a team two points, a loss none and a tie one (no result/an abandoned match will earn one point). There are four points up for grabs for the Test match (so each team gets two points for a draw).
Who currently holds the Women’s Ashes?
Australia is the current holder of the Women's Ashes trophy – we retained it in the last Women's Ashes, in 2023, with a draw.
The Australian team is currently ranked number one in the world.
Does the women’s trophy contain ashes?
Yes. An actual ashes trophy was created in 1998. The Women’s Cricket Association (WCA) commissioned a carver to create a hollow cricket ball using wood from a 300-year-old yew tree. They also found a miniature cricket bat, sought signatures from both sets of players who were competing that year, and a copy of the WCA constitution – they burnt all of that, held a ceremony inside Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, gathered up the ashes and placed them in the urn/trophy, before the first “official” Women's Ashes was held the following day (that particular Ashes series ended in a draw so, for the first year, the trophy was shared).
How many times has the Women’s Ashes been held, and who’s won more times – Australia or England?
A total of 25 women’s Ashes series have been held since 1934-1935. Australia has won more Ashes series – ten compared to six wins for England (with nine draws).
Who is the captain of the Australian women’s cricket team?
Since Meg Lanning retired from international cricket in 2023, wicket keeper Alyssa Healy has been captain of the Australian women's cricket squad.
Who is the captain of the English women’s cricket team?
All-rounder Heather Knight will captain the English groups in the 2025 Women’s Ashes.
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