England Women's Cricket vs. Australia: Analysing New Ashes Format

As the men's sides break ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test, the women's Ashes series is now into its third day.

Unlike the men's equivalent, the women's Ashes is not played across five five-day Tests. Instead, it has its own unique format—new for 2013.

Previously, the women's Ashes was contested over a maximum of two Tests, although in recent years this was reduced to just a single Test.

Both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) agreed that the women's Ashes was in need of a revamp, so a new format was created.

On May 13, 2013, both organisations released a statement explaining how the new Ashes would work this summer and going forward.

Instead of a single Test, the current Ashes series comprises one Test, three one-day internationals and three international Twenty20 matches.

Each type of game is worth a certain amount of points, with the team which earns the most points being crowned the Ashes winner.

Schedule

Ashes Test: Sunday August 11 to Wednesday August 14, Wormsley

First ODI: Tuesday August 20, Lord's

Second ODI: Friday August 23, Sussex

Third ODI: Sunday August 25, Sussex

First T20: Tuesday August 27, Chelmsford

Second T20: Thursday August 29, Southampton

Third T20: Saturday August 31, Durham    

For the Test match, six points will be awarded to the winning country with two points each for a draw. Each of the one-day internationals and Twenty20 games are worth two points, with one point awarded to each side if they draw.

The change in format is undoubtedly a big step for women's international cricket, as it means the Ashes is now decided over a series of games rather than a single Test.

Test cricket still has pre-eminence, however, with victory here a big step to securing the series.

This adds to the spectacle of the event while bringing more top-class live women's cricket to venues all over England this summer.

The change in format also brings each of the major match-types into one neat package, giving fans and players alike the chance to experience all three in just a few short weeks.

ECB chief executive David Collier said:

"

The innovative format for the Women's Ashes will ensure the widest possible interest in these series and ECB looks forward to a wonderful programme of cricket played by two of the leading women's teams in world cricket.

"

It seems the revised system has gone down well with players, too. In a column for The Independent, England's Sarah Taylor listed it as a reason why people should watch the series. She said:

"

The format of the series means it's not all down to the result of the single Test.

I like that – it means Australia, as holders of the Ashes, can't come to the Test looking just to bat out time knowing a draw would be enough for them to retain the trophy—not that they would have been thinking that way, of course!

"

England require 10 points to regain the Ashes, while Australia can retain them by picking up nine. 

Whatever the result, the new format is sure to give women's cricket the boost in media attention that it deserves, particularly with two of the last games forming televised double-headers with the men's series.