England captain Charlotte Edwards believes this year’s Women’s Ashes is the most “eagerly anticipated” series of her near 20-year international career.
The 35-year-old made her England debut when the players were amateurs, paid for their own kit and took the field wearing skirts.
However, the women’s game has changed significantly since Edwards first played for England in 1996 and when they face Australia in the first one-day international at Taunton, England, for the start of the multi-format Ashes, it will be the first time the two sides have met as fully professional sides.
“The 2015 Women’s Ashes is possibly the most eagerly anticipated series that I have ever been involved with during my international playing career,” Edwards said.
The format has been changed from the last Ashes, with the points for winning the lone Test match reduced from six to four, and all limited-overs games providing two points for victory.
Australia, in common with their men’s team, have not won a series in England since 2001.
“Cricket contests between Australia and England have a special place in the hearts and minds of the players and public and we, like the Australian men’s team, hope that we can inspire the next generation of players and fans and do our nation proud in our respective Ashes series,” Australia women’s captain Meg Lanning said.
“England are our fiercest rivals and we anticipate a competitive series that will go down to the wire,” she added.
The three one-day internationals during the series are to count toward the International Cricket Council Women’s Championship, which provides the qualifying framework for the 2017 World Cup in England.
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