Lifting The Urn Is Destined To Be Just Part Of The Journey...

Alison Mitchell takes a look at how both teams are shaping up with the Women’s Ashes getting underway this weekend

- Alison Mitchell

The last time England contested the Ashes as World Cup winners, they drew a Test in Worcester to retain the coveted trophy. Back in 2009, the Ashes was very different to the current multi-series format, in that the prize was decided over one solitary Test match.

However, England also won the One Day series 4-0 that year, and now, as world champions, they should feel that they have an excellent chance of regaining the trophy that was lost on home soil in 2015. England’s attitude towards the 2017 World Cup was always that it was ‘part of the journey’ not ‘the final destination’ and this Ashes series, which starts on Sunday, is the next step on that journey.

The series consists of three ODIs (one at Allan Border Field and two at Coffs Harbour), a day-night Test over four days at North Sydney Oval, which will be the first ever floodlit Test for women, and three T20s (one at North Sydney and two in Canberra).

England are at full strength, with 18-year-old spinner Sophie Ecclestone finishing school and being added to the squad that triumphed in front of a packed house at Lord’s and a TV audience of millions on Sunday, July 23.

The Aussies are already on the back foot without their talismanic captain Meg Lanning, who stoically nursed a shoulder injury through the World Cup but has since succumbed to the need for surgery. She is out for the entire summer, and her runs at the top of the order as the world’s undeniable best batter will inevitably be missed, as will her tactical nous and leadership.