Historic Day-Night Women’s Ashes Test at MCG

In a historic move, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host a day-night Test match between the Australian and English women’s cricket teams. This will be the first time a pink-ball Test is played at the iconic venue. The four-day match is scheduled from January 30 to February 2, 2025.

Celebrating Women’s Cricket Milestones

The Test match holds special significance as it will mark the 90th anniversary of the first-ever women’s Test, played in December 1934. Additionally, it will be the first time the Australian women’s team plays a Test at the MCG since 1949.

Multi-Format Women’s Ashes Series

The day-night Test is part of a multi-format Ashes series between Australia and England. For the first time, the Women’s Ashes will be played in a separate season from the men’s competition since the introduction of the point-based system.

The series will kick off with three ODIs starting on January 12, followed by a T20I series beginning on January 20. The Test match will commence 10 days after the T20I series concludes.

Highly Anticipated Summer of Cricket

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming summer, stating, “This is one of the most highly anticipated summers of cricket in memory, with the eyes of the cricket world focused on the extended Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series and the multi-format Women’s Ashes.”

Historical Context

In 1949, the MCG hosted a Test match between England and Australia as part of a three-match tour. Although the match ended in a draw, Australia clinched the overall series 1-0, thanks to a 186-run victory in the first Test in Sydney.