CA want more multi-format series for women's team

Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley wants all full-member nations to play women's multi-format series in a move that would drastically increase the number of Tests.

Australia's Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge has been a raging success, with a world-record crowd of 20,924 in attendance over the first four days.

The match is one of three Test matches in the space of seven months for Australia, a move that has pleased the playing group that has long wanted more red-ball cricket.

Australia will play their first Test in India since 1984 in December, while a maiden Test match against South Africa in Perth awaits in February.

But there are still issues beneath that.

New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies have not played a Test match since 2004, with New Zealand Cricket in particular only having a preference for white-ball matches.

Financial issues are also among the other challenges, given the cost associated with hosting a Test match for the home nation.

But Hockley would like to see all teams who tour Australia play the same multi-format system that is used for the Ashes, with one Test, three ODIs and three T20s.

"I would like to see multi-format series as a key feature against all our full-member touring opposition," Hockley told AAP.

"The women's future tour program goes out until 2025, so the forward schedule is in development.

"Compared to the men's there is relatively more space in the calendar.

"T20 is the dominant format for women's international cricket, but I think the multi-format series is brilliant. It gives every match more context.

"Matches like the Ashes Test here at Trent Bridge, hopefully given the great numbers tuning in and really healthy crowd, will hopefully only encourage other countries."

Such a move would likely give Australia two home Tests in most summers, however the scheduling of matches is another challenge.

AAP has been told players want greater structure in their scheduling, believing annual fixtures at venues would attract more fans in the same way it does for the men's on Boxing Day or New Year's.

Hockley would ideally have a women's multi-format series at the start of each summer before the WBBL and another in late January or early February, but believes it is not always realistic to have it in the same slots.

"When you play them there needs to be a level of flexibility given you also have World Cups in the mix," Hockley said.

"Equally we need to buy into our overseas touring commitments.

"In the past couple of years we have agreed to tour other southern-hemisphere countries during our summer. That is about being a good global cricket citizen."

CommBank Ashes Tour of the UK 2023

Australia lead the multi-format series 4-0

Test: Australia won by 89 runs

First T20I: July 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, 6.35pm (3.35am July 2 AEST)

Second T20I: July 5 at The Oval, London, 6.35pm (3.35am July 6 AEST)

Third T20I: July 8 at Lord’s, London, 6.35pm (3.35am July 9 AEST)

First ODI: July 12 at The County Ground, Bristol, 1pm (10pm AEST)

Second ODI: July 16 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, 11am (7pm AEST)

Third ODI: July 18 at The County Ground, Taunton, 1pm (10pm AEST)

Australia squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham

England Test squad: Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver-Brunt (vc), Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Kate Cross, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Danielle Gibson, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Issy Wong, Danielle Wyatt