Women's Ashes Explained: England vs Australia in Women's Cricket
An overview of the Women's Ashes — cricket's oldest women's series between England and Australia Women, the multi-format points system, recent Australian dominance, and why the Women's Ashes is growing in global cricket profile.
The Women's Ashes is the international cricket series between England Women and Australia Women — cricket's oldest women's bilateral rivalry. First played in 1934–35 (a single Test match), the Women's Ashes has been contested approximately every two years. Australia have dominated the modern Women's Ashes era — winning every Women's Ashes series since 2015 (with the exception of a 2023 drawn series in England). The Women's Ashes uses a multi-format points system since 2013: one Test (valued at 4 points), three T20Is (2 points each), and three ODIs (2 points each) are played; the team with more points wins the series.
The Multi-Format Points System
The Women's Ashes multi-format system (introduced 2013) values: one Test — 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw; three T20Is — 2 points for each win; three ODIs — 2 points for each win. Maximum points available: 16. To win the Women's Ashes, a team needs more than 8 points (assuming the ashes are held by the previous winner, which holds their series points total from the previous series). The multi-format system was praised for making every match count toward the overall result — previously, a team winning the ODIs but losing the Test could win the 'Ashes' in a confusing standalone-format decision.
Recent Results and Australian Dominance
Australia have won or retained the Women's Ashes in 2015, 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, and drawn with England in 2023. Australia's dominance reflects their women's cricket infrastructure: the WBBL (Women's Big Bash League, launched 2015) provides eight months of professional franchise T20 cricket annually, giving Australian women's players more professional experience and income than any equivalent program. England's women's team has significantly improved since the ECB's professionalisation in the 2010s but has not yet been able to sustain series-long quality against Australia's deep squad.
The One Women's Test
The Women's Ashes Test is typically four days (five-day Tests are increasingly common for major bilateral Women's Test series). Women's Test cricket has historically been played rarely — budget, scheduling, and the prioritisation of the T20 and ODI formats by women's cricket boards have limited Women's Test cricket to one or two per year globally. The ICC has committed to increasing Women's Test cricket as part of its structural support for the women's game; the Women's Future Tours Programme (FTP) now includes more Test matches across all Women's bilateral series.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Women's Ashes decided?
Multi-format points system since 2013: one Test (4 points for a win, 2 for a draw), three T20Is (2 points per win), three ODIs (2 points per win) — 16 points maximum. The team with more points wins. If the points are tied, the previous holders retain the Ashes. Australia have dominated — winning or retaining the Women's Ashes in every series since 2015 until drawing the 2023 series.
How often is the Women's Ashes played?
Approximately every two years — alternating between Australia (Australian summer, November–February) and England (English summer, June–September). Recent editions: 2019–20 (Australia), 2021–22 (Australia), 2023 (England, drawn). The frequency reflects the scheduling priorities of the two boards and ICC Women's FTP commitments.
When was the first Women's Ashes played?
1934–35 — a single Test match played in Australia. England won. The series has been contested intermittently since; its current multi-format structure (introduced 2013) has significantly increased its commercial and competitive profile. The Women's Ashes is the oldest women's bilateral cricket rivalry in existence.