Women's Ashes schedule rejigged ahead of World Cup

Australia will begin their women's Ashes defence in just 14 days after the schedule for the multi-format series was rejigged and brought forward due to the quarantine requirements for the upcoming ODI World Cup in New Zealand.

The CommBank Ashes will now begin a week earlier than originally planned with three T20Is at Adelaide Oval on January 20, 22 and 23 before the Test is played as scheduled at Manuka Oval from January 27-30.

Canberra will also play host to the first of three ODIs, a day-nighter on February 3, before the series is rounded out by the final two one-dayers at Melbourne's Junction Oval on February 6 and 8.

The changes were necessary to allow both countries to enter hotel quarantine in New Zealand ahead of the one-day World Cup.

While that tournament does not begin until March 4, both teams are set to play up to two warm-up games in the week leading into the event, and given the isolation requirements, are required to be in New Zealand by mid-February.

The Ashes were originally due to begin with the Test starting January 27, followed by two T20Is at North Sydney Oval, a T20 and ODI at Adelaide Oval, and two ODIs at Junction Oval, ending on February 19.

Recent changes made to New Zealand's border roadmap in late December mean the two teams will have to undergo 10 days of hotel quarantine; under the country's original plans announced in November, they would only have needed to complete seven days of home isolation travelling from Australia.

The new, more condensed Ashes schedule will be played across 20 days, down from the original 23, and plans for a three-day warm-up match between Australia and Australia A have been scuppered as a result.

Plans for the Governor-General's XI game to be played at Drummoyne Oval on February 2 have also been scrapped – the second consecutive year it has been cancelled – but it is hoped it will make a comeback in 2022-23.

The Australia A v England A schedule has also changed; the sides will meet in three 20-over matches at Adelaide's Karen Rolton Oval on January 20, 21 and 23, before three 50-over matches at Canberra's Phillip Oval on January 28 and 30 and February 2.

Australia's squad is due to be announced next week, while England named a 17-player main squad and 12-strong 'A' group in December.

"We’re grateful to all parties for their flexibility in ensuring that both Australia and England can travel to New Zealand with sufficient time to complete their mandatory quarantine period," Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said.

"Regrettably, logistical considerations have meant that we have had to move two T20 games from North Sydney Oval, which has long been the home of the women’s game in Sydney, and it is also disappointing that the annual Governor-General’s XI match scheduled to be played at Drummoyne Oval is unable to proceed this season.

"We thank cricket fans in Sydney for their understanding and have no doubt that the three T20Is at Adelaide Oval will set the tone for a great series."

Australia and defending champions England will meet in their opening World Cup match in Hamilton on March 5, with both sides to play seven group games as they vie for a spot in the semi-finals.

The final will be played in Christchurch on April 4. 

In other schedule updates, further Women’s National Cricket League matches have been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns, impacting the Australians' preparation for the Ashes.

Two matches between Queensland and South Australia scheduled for January 7 and 9 at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane and two matches between the ACT and Victoria on January 9 and 11 at Manuka Oval in Canberra have all been postponed.

The call was made after it was determined the risk of exposure to COVID-19 through interstate travel, and the subsequent impact on player availability, was too significant at present.

Several WNCL squads are currently managing positive cases or enforced isolation, creating challenges around preparation and player availability.

As a result of the postponements, the match between NSW and the ACT scheduled for Friday, January 14 at North Sydney Oval has been brought forward to January 9 and will be played at Manuka Oval.

It means that while potential NSW and ACT national squad members have one more hit-out ahead of the Ashes, no other player will play an elite game ahead of the Ashes.

For Meg Lanning and Beth Mooney who sat out the December WNCL matches, and for those from South Australia and Western Australia who have yet to begin their seasons, there will be no cricket between the end of WBBL|07 and the start of the Ashes. 

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Jan 20: First T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval

Australia A v England A

Jan 20: First T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 21: Second T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 23: Third T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 28: First OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Jan 30: Second OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Feb 2: Third OD, Philip Oval, Canberra