Women up for Ashes clash

England women's captain Charlotte Edwards

The England women’s team, led by Charlotte Edwards, flew to Australia on Monday with Ashes glory just one Test match away.

The team must draw their only Test match on their tour of Australia to retain the Ashes. The four-day match, which will be played at The Bradman Oval, starts on February 15.

The team will also play a five-match ODI series, including games at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground and a Twenty20 game at the MCG.

They will then head to New Zealand for another ODI series - this time a five-match affair, with all games played at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval at Lincoln University.

Edwards said: “We’re all really looking forward to it. We’ve all been working hard over the winter.

Edwards (front) and some of the England squad

“It’s going to be a tough tour as both Australia and New Zealand are two of the best sides in world cricket, but we’re taking a young talented squad with lots of potential, and we’re fully prepared for it.”

Schedule

January 21: England depart Heathrow
January 25: Tour Match England v Victoria Wesley College
January 28: Tour Match England v Australia U21 Albert Ground
January 30: Tour Match England v Australia U21 Geelong
February 1: Twenty20 England v Australia MCG
February 3: 1st ODI England v Australia MCG
February 4: 2nd ODI England v Australia MCG
February 7: 3rd ODI England v Australia Drummoyne Oval
February 10: 4th ODI England v Australia SCG
February 11: 5th ODI England v Australia SCG
February 15: Test Match England v Australia Bradman Oval, Bowral
February 16: Day 2 England v Australia Bradman Oval, Bowral
February 17: Day 3 England v Australia Bradman Oval, Bowral
February 18: Day 4 England v Australia Bradman Oval, Bowral

February 20: England team depart for Christchurch in New Zealand

February 22: Tour Match England v New Zealand A Lincoln
February 24: 1st ODI England v New Zealand Lincoln University
February 25: 2nd ODI England v New Zealand Lincoln University
February 28: 3rd ODI England v New Zealand Lincoln University
March 2: 4th ODI England v New Zealand Lincoln University
March 3: 5th ODI England v New Zealand Lincoln University
March 5: England depart

England Squad:

Charlotte Edwards, captain (Kent)
Caroline Atkins (Sussex)
Rosalie Birch (Sussex)
Holly Colvin (Aus leg only) (Sussex)
Steph Davies (Somerset)
Lydia Greenway (Kent)
Isa Guha (Berkshire)
Jenny Gunn (Notts)
Laura Marsh (Sussex)
Beth Morgan (Middx)
Charlotte Russell (NZ leg only) (Sussex)
Nicky Shaw (Notts)
Jane Smit (Notts)
Claire Taylor (Berkshire)
Sarah Taylor (Sussex)

Nine players will travel on Monday with the remaining members of the squad, who are already playing state cricket in Australia, joining their team-mates on arrival.