England Women name strong teams in their attempt to win their first Ashes series since 2014

England Women named a strong multi-format squad for the 2025 Women's Ashes series in Australia. Heather Knight will once again lead the side in all three formats, with the ODI series set to kick things off on the 11th of January 2025 in Sydney.

A tougher opponent lies in wait.

The two heavyweights will clash in three ODIs, three T20s, and a one-off day-night four-day Test match.

Fresh off a dominant display against South Africa with convincing victories in all three formats, Knight and her England side will be well aware that the task down under will offer a tougher challenge against an Australian side they haven’t beaten since the 2014 Ashes.

The three ODI and T20 matches are each worth two points, while the four-day Test match will be worth four points.

Kate Cross returns to the ODI and Test sides following her back spasm injury in the third and final match against South Africa in Potchefstroom. 

While Bowler Mahika Gaur will be with the group, continuing her return to bowling following the injury that made her unavailable for the recent South Africa tour.

All-rounder Freya Kemp and spinner Linsey Smith (both T20 squad only) and wicketkeeper-batter Bess Heath (T20 and Test squad) are named in Ashes squads for the first time. Meanwhile, seamer Ryanna MacDonald-Gay, who took two wickets on her Test debut in the recent tour of South Africa, is also named in the Test squad.

Healthy options in the fast bowling department.

Coach Jonathan Lewis told Sportsboom.com that his team is in a good place following their time out in South Africa.

“I think we are in a good place; we have played some really good cricket. Our young players are evolving really fast.”

“With our fast bowlers in particular, they are now starting to make winning contributions, and it would be lovely if they were more consistent; however, I’m really understanding that as a young fast bowler, that's a really hard thing to do, and I’m really patient with them.”

Lauren Filer will be one of the fast bowlers to look out for on tour, and Lewis highlighted that while it is tricky to strike a perfect balance to ensure she plays enough without breaking down, she will still play a key role in the side.

“It's really tricky to balance the schedules and travels that we have; it is something we really work hard on. Most of our fast bowlers are 23 and under, so we expect injuries and different types of form, so managing them is imperative.”

“Lauren Filer, in particular, is really exciting, the speed that she has, and she is now trying to develop some movement to get the ball to swing in both ways and also bowl a wobble seam, and you line that up with the pace she has, if she can get all three to happen in the next six weeks, she could have a great tour.”

“But I don’t expect that to come to fruition every single game, but however, I would hope that she is able to put in some really good performances for us.”

The ODI, T20, and Test squads.

England Women ODI squad: Heather Knight (captain; Somerset), Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Maia Bouchier (Hampshire), Alice Capsey (Surrey), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Lauren Filer (Durham), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)

England Women IT20 squad: Heather Knight (captain; Somerset), Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Maia Bouchier (Hampshire), Alice Capsey (Surrey), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Lauren Filer (Durham), Danielle Gibson (Somerset), Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Bess Heath (Durham), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Freya Kemp (Hampshire), Linsey Smith (Hampshire), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)

England Women Test squad: Heather Knight (captain; Somerset), Tammy Beaumont (The Blaze), Lauren Bell (Hampshire), Maia Bouchier (Hampshire), Kate Cross (Lancashire), Charlie Dean (Somerset), Sophia Dunkley (Surrey), Sophie Ecclestone (Lancashire), Lauren Filer (Durham), Bess Heath (Durham), Amy Jones (The Blaze), Ryana MacDonald-Gay (Surrey), Nat Sciver-Brunt (The Blaze), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Surrey)

2025 Women’s Ashes schedule (UK dates and times)

CommBank Women’s Ashes ODI Series

11 January: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (11.30 pm UK time)

13 January: Junction Oval, Melbourne (11.05 pm UK time)

16 January: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (11.05 pm UK time)

CommBank Women’s Ashes IT20 Series

20 January: SCG, Sydney (8:40 am UK time)

23 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra (8:40 am)

25 January: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (8:10 am)

CommBank Women’s Ashes Test Match

30 January-2 February: MCG, Melbourne (3:30 am UK time)