What is the Women's Ashes?

How do the women’s Ashes work? Great question! Unlike the men’s Ashes, the women’s Ashes are a multi-format, points-based series featuring three ODIs, one Test and three T20Is. The team with the most points at the end of the series is awarded the trophy. An ODI or T20I win earns two points, a loss none and a tie one, no result or abandoned match will earn a single point. There are four points on offer for the Test, with each team awarded two if there’s a draw.

The Test is also slightly different to the men’s version, played over four days. Australia are the current holders of the Ashes having regained them on English soil in 2015 and retained them at home two years later. That means if the series ends with the teams tied on points, Australia will again retain the Ashes.

Australia celebrate retaining the Ashes on home soil in 2017

Has it always been this way? The points system has been in place since 2013, with England winning the first two editions before Australia bounced back in 2015, while points were split in 2017. Prior to that, the Ashes were determined solely on the outcomes of Test matches between the two countries. Overall, 22 Ashes series have been held with eight won by Australia, six by England, and eight drawn.

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How can I watch or listen? The Nine Network will broadcast free-to-air coverage of every game on GEM, with fans able to watch in high definition via channel 95, while you’ll be able to listen to all of the action on the ABC.

How about online scores? You're in the right place! The cricket.com.au match centre and CA Live app will bring you live scoring of every Ashes clash, as well as the tour games.

Squads? Here's the Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham.

Australia reveal squad for Women's Ashes defence

England have named their squad for the first ODI: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Jenny Gunn, Amy Jones, Laura Marsh, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt

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Venues? This series will be played at six different venues around the UK. Leicester’s Grade Road will host the first two ODIs, before the action moves to the picturesque St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury for the third one-dayer. Taunton’s County Ground will host the Test match, while the T20Is will be played in Chelmsford – England’s fortress, where they’ve never been defeated – Hove and Bristol.

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Is the time difference going to be a killer? Yes and no. The first two ODIs are day-night matches, beginning at 11pm AEST. But the third ODI is a day match, starting at 8pm AEST, the same as each day of the Test. You can set an early alarm for the first and third T20Is, to be played at 4:15am and 3:30am AEST, while the second begins at 11pm AEST.

Australia lead England 6-0

July 2: Australia won by two wickets

July 4: Australia won by four wickets

July 7: Australia won by 194 runs

July 11-13: England Academy v Australia, Marlborough College, Swindon

July 18-21: Only Test, The County Ground, Taunton

July 26: First T20, County Ground, Chelmsford

July 28: Second T20, The County Ground, Hove

July 31: Third T20, Bristol County Ground, Bristol

A Test victory is worth four points (two each for a draw), two points are awarded for ODI and T20 wins

What else have you got for me? There’ll be unrivalled coverage from on the ground with the Australian team, plus all the latest news, analysis and highlights you could want on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app. And if you aren't already subscribed to The Unplayable Podcast, do yourself a favour! Members of the Australian women’s team will be making regular appearances to keep you updated on all the news from the tour.

Lanning, Gardner star in Aussie warm-up win

How about attending a game? That’s a brilliant idea. The English fans will be loud and the Aussies will be desperate for all the support they can get! If you’re in the UK and want to get along to a match to cheer on the team, check out the ECB website for details.

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I heard Australia A are here too? They sure are! A 13-player Australia A squad is touring the UK alongside the senior team. They’ll play a series of 50-over and 20-over matches against England and an England Academy side, while also taking on England in a three-day red-ball warm-up ahead of the Ashes Test. The concurrent nature of the tours is an added bonus for Australia, who could call upon ‘A’ players at any point during the tour if form or fitness required. Follow live scores of all the ‘A’ matches on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

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Australia A squad: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Maddy Darke, Josie Dooley, Heather Graham, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Georgia Redmayne, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Belinda Vakarewa, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Here’s their fixture:

Warm-up match

June 29: England defeat Australia A by 81 runs, Loughborough

One-day matches

July 3: Australia A defeat England Women’s Academy by five wickets, Loughborough

July 5: England Women’s Academy v Australia, Loughborough

July 8: England Women’s Academy v Australia, Loughborough

Three-day tour match

July 12-14: England v Australia A, Millfield School, Street

20-over matches

July 17: England Women’s Academy v Australia, Millfield School, Street

July 19: England Women’s Academy v Australia, Millfield School, Street