The post-mortem has begun. Australia retained the Ashes at the earliest opportunity and won them outright swiftly thereafter. Records have fallen all series, and none in England’s favour.

In 2015 when England succumbed to a dominant Australia, we witnessed for the first time a critique of their performance previously not afforded women’s sport. It precipitated a regime change and both the captain and coach were replaced.

This time, ominously for the wider outlook, the major flaw is structural. Concerns over England’s domestic structure were raised then as an added element but now, frustratingly, take centre stage. Women’s cricket infrastructure is not an alluring, headline-grabbing topic, so we must seize the opportunity while we can. Australia boast five times more professional — or at the very least nearly professional— female cricketers in their domestic system than England. For nations with comparable means to invest in the sport, this is a preventable mismatch.

The Kia Super League was reeled out as England’s magic bullet, the bridge to the gap between the amateur county players and the fully professional internationals. It made for an alluring prospect but never quite clarified its true purpose. Whether to ground homegrown players or rely on international superstars; the creation of a pathway or a spectacle. The latter prevailed and England’s next generation found opportunity few and far between. Some future prospects were unearthed, but nothing compared to the reserves Australia now has. As for the spectacle, it was fun while it lasted, but even this has been cast aside, women’s cricket once again an afterthought in the tumultuous restructuring of domestic cricket in England.