England Women’s manager John Lewis says his side are in a “really good place” for the Ashes series in Australia, which he describes as cricket’s “toughest challenge”.
Lewis’ side bounced back from their T20 World Cup disappointment with a dominant multi-format series win in South Africa earlier this month.
The Women’s Ashes series begins on January 11 with three ODIs, followed by three T20s and one Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 30.
Lewis said: “We’ve come off a really successful tour of South Africa which gave us really good preparation.
“We’re in a really good place. We spent a lot of time thinking about what happened at the World Cup and we’re in a better place now than when we got on the plane to South Africa.
“It’s a tough, tough challenge, it’s the toughest challenge, yeah, probably just about.
“Winning a World Cup after 50 in India is also a big challenge, so 2025 is a huge year for us. We have two very different challenges that we are really looking forward to.”
England, led by captain Heather Knight, are bidding to win the Ashes for the first time in 10 years, with Australia retaining them in a thrilling series in England in 2023.
Australia has also bounced back from the disappointment of the T20 World Cup. they lost to South Africa in the semi-finals after beating India 3-0 in their one-day international series.
“Their record has to be respected and as a team they have to be respected and we’re really aware of how difficult it will be to go and play our best cricket in Australia.
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Watch the highlights as England thrashed South Africa by 286 runs in Bloemfontein to win the one-off Test over three days.
“I think what we will focus on rather than the opposition will be ourselves and how we want to play.
“If we play our best cricket it will be a competitive series and I hope everyone has a thoroughly enjoyable time like they did in England a few years ago.
“We’re pretty confident, but we also understand how big a challenge it is for any team to play against Australia.”
Australia retained the Ashes in 2023 after a thrillingly drawn series in England
England have named four potential Ashes debutants in their squad.
All-rounder Freya Kemp and spinner Lynsey Smith have both been named in the T20 squad, while wicketkeeper Bess Heath has been included in the T20 and Test squads as the trio make their Ashes debuts.
Seamer Ryana MacDonald-Gay is also included in the Test squad after impressing on debut during the recent tour of South Africa.
Nat Sciver-Brunt should be a key figure in England’s Ashes chase after a superb year which culminated in her scoring the fastest century in women’s Tests against South Africa, off just 96 balls.
England women’s ODI team. Heather Knight (Captain; Somerset), Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Maya Bouchier (Hampshire), Alice Capsey (Surrey), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophia Dunkley ( Sarri) Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Lauren Filer (Durham), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danny Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey).
England women’s IT20 team. Heather Knight (captain, Somerset), Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Maya Bouchier (Hampshire), Alice Capsey (Surrey), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Lauren Filler (Durham), Danielle Gibson (Somerset), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Durham), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Freya Kemp (Hampshire), Linsey Smith (Hampshire), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey).
England women’s test squad. Heather Knight (Captain; Somerset), Tammy Beaumont (Blaze), Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Maya Bouchier (Hampshire), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire ), Lauren Filer (Durham), Bess Heath (Durham), Amy Jones (Blaze), Rhianna McDonald-Gay (Surrey), Nat Syver-Brunt (Blaze), Danny Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey).
2025 Women’s Ashes Schedule
UK dates and times
CommBank Women’s Ashes ODI Series
- First ODI. North Sydney Oval, Sydney – Saturday, January 11 (11.30pm)
- Second ODI. Junction Oval, Melbourne – Monday, January 13 (11.05pm)
- Third ODI. Bellerive Oval, Hobart – Thursday, January 16 (11.05pm)
CommBank Women’s Ash IT20 Series
- First IT20. SCG, Sydney – Monday, January 20 (08.40)
- Second IT20. Manuka Oval, Canberra – Thursday 23 January (08.40)
- Third IT20. Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – Saturday, January 25 (08.10)
CommBank Women’s Ashes Test Match
- One-time test. MCG, Melbourne – 30 January to 2 February (3.30am)
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