There is a return series planned for 2014 utilising this format. With the men's team headed back down under over the upcoming summer and the great rivalry it will engender, there exists a huge opportunity to really build public interest in the women's game.
The 2013-14 Ashes is planned as follows:
Ashes Test 1: Brisbane (The Gabba), 21-25/11/13
Ashes Test 2: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), 5-9/12/13
Ashes Test 3: Perth (WACA), 13-17/12/13
Ashes Test 4: Melbourne (The MCG), 26-30/12/13 (Boxing Day Test)
Ashes Test 5: Sydney (The SCG), 3-7/1/2014 (New Years Test)
(plus ODI and T20 matches)
There's ample opportunity to run the full 7 match series within that utilising the current format. This is how I'd run it:Women's Ashes Test: Sydney (North Sydney Oval), 19-23/12/13
Women's Ashes One-Day 1: Melbourne (St Kilda Cricket Ground) 1/1/14 (New Years Day)
Women's Ashes One-Day 2: Brisbane (The Ekka) 11/1/14
Women's Ashes One-Day 3: Canberra (Manuka Oval) 18/1/14
Women's Ashes Twenty20 1: Gold Coast (Carrara Stadium) 27/1/14 (Australia Day Public Holiday)
Women's Ashes Twenty20 2: Melbourne (The MCG) 31/1/14
Women's Ashes Twenty20 3: Sydney (The SCG) 2/2/14
Utilising the alternative grounds for cricket in the major cities allows for the matches to not impede the (as yet) incomplete domestic schedules as well as bringing a little bit of the glamour of international cricket away from the cold, massive, lifeless stadiums that cricket tends to be played in here. The alternative venues I've nominated are also more 'local' and would help to boost the local economies. Further, utilising two of the three planned Twenty20 internationals between the Australian & English Men allows the games to be played as precursors providing extra value to ticket holders and should increase the match attendance.
Put together, the combined Australian international season would look like this:
Ashes Test 1: Brisbane (The Gabba), 21-25/11/13
Ashes Test 2: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval), 5-9/12/13
Ashes Test 3: Perth (WACA), 13-17/12/13
Women's Ashes Test: Sydney (North Sydney Oval), 19-23/12/13
Ashes Test 4: Melbourne (The MCG), 26-30/12/13 (Boxing Day Test)
Women's Ashes One-Day 1: Melbourne (St Kilda Cricket Ground) 1/1/14 (New Years Day)
Ashes Test 5: Sydney (The SCG), 3-7/1/2014 (New Years Test)
Women's Ashes One-Day 2: Brisbane (The Ekka) 11/1/14
ODI 1: Melbourne (The MCG) 12/1/14
ODI 2: Brisbane (The Gabba) 17/1/14
Women's Ashes One-Day 3: Canberra (Manuka Oval) 18/1/14
ODI 3: Sydney (The SCG) 19/1/14
ODI 4: Perth (WACA) 24/1/14
ODI 5: Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) 26/1/14 (Australia Day)
Women's Ashes Twenty20 1: Gold Coast (Carrara Stadium) 27/1/14 (Australia Day Public Holiday)
T20 International 1: Hobart (Bellerive Oval) 29/1/14
T20 International 2/Women's Ashes Twenty20 2: Melbourne (The MCG) 31/1/14
T20 International 3/Women's Ashes Twenty20 3: Sydney (The SCG) 2/2/14
Obviously scheduling is just one part of the equation. The critical thing is guaranteeing media coverage to justify sponsorship outlays. Nine already has a loaded schedule with the men's tour; the only weekend free of cricket is the one I've suggested for the Women's Ashes Test. Obviously this makes them an unlikely candidate as a broadcast partner. Ten has signed a multi-year contract to cover the Big Bash League which conflicts with pretty much every game of cricket scheduled over the summer period. Again this rules them out of the equation. Given the ABC's commitment to telecasting women's sport over recent years (W-League, WNBL etc) they seem to be the natural candidate given their plethora of channels that generally broadcast stuff that wouldn't be missed.
Suitable media coverage however is pretty useless without any form of lead-up marketing. Personalities like Ellyse Perry (young, multiple sport national representative), Sarah Elliott (century making new Mum), Alyssa Healy (niece of all time great Ian) and the recently retired Lisa Sthalekar are exemplary role models for their sport. A concerted effort (even buying some newspaper space if needed) to use these personalities and others, building media profiles for them etc. by Cricket Australia would be a necessity for the series to be a success.
