Australian women's cricket team in England and Ireland in 2015

The Australian women's cricket team toured England and Ireland in 2015. The matches against England were played for the Women's Ashes, which since 2013 consists of a multi-format series with points awarded for each of the matches. Two points are awarded for each Twenty20 International (T20I) or One Day International (ODI) win, and four points to the Test winner (compared with six in the previous series) or two points to each team in the event of a Test draw.

The Women's Ashes were held by England before the series but, after winning two ODIs, the Test match and the second T20I, Australia regained the Ashes on 28 August 2015 with one T20I match to play. It was also the first time Australia had won the Ashes in England since 2001, after a draw in 2009 and defeats in the 2005 and 2013 series.

Australia won the ODI match series (2–1) and the sole Test match. England won the T20I match series (2–1). Overall Australia won the Ashes (10 points to 6). Australia's Ellyse Perry scored 264 runs, took 16 wickets and was named the player of the series.

Australian women's cricket team in England in 2013

The Australian women's cricket team toured England in 2013. The visitors were defending the Women's Ashes.

The only Test match of the tour took place on 11–14 August at Wormsley Park, and was drawn. Three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) were played: the first at Lord's on 20 August, and the other two at Hove on 23 and 25 August. Also three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches were played, on 27, 29 and 31 August, at Chelmsford, Southampton and Chester-le-Street respectively (the second and third of these being followed, on the same dates and at the same venues, by T20I matches in the concurrent Australian men's tour).

The tourists also played a match against the England Academy women on 5–6 August at Brunton Memorial Ground, Radlett. Australia won the match by 116 runs.

In 2013, For the first time, the Ashes were decided based on a points system, taking account not only of the one Test match, but also the results of limited-overs games. Six points were awarded for a Test victory (two points to each side in the event of a draw), and two points for a victory in any of the ODIs and T20I games.

The Women's Ashes

The Women's Ashes is the perpetual trophy in women's international cricket series between England and Australia. The name derives from the historic precedent of the Ashes in male cricket and, until 2013, was similarly decided exclusively on the outcomes of Test matches. Since the Australian tour of England in 2013, the competition is decided on a points system, taking account of One Day Internationals and Twenty20 International matches as well as Tests. Four (previously six) points are awarded for a Test victory (two points to each side in the event of a draw), and two points for a victory in a limited-overs game. As of 29 August 2015, the trophy is held by Australia.

History

Heralded in 1931, the first women's Test series between England and Australia—the first women's Test series anywhere—was played in 1934-35. At that time, according to the English captain, Betty Archdale, women played only "for love of the game" and did not wish to be associated with the male concepts of Tests and Ashes. The contest was not officially designated "the Women's Ashes" until the 1998 series, when an autographed bat was burned before the first Test at Lord's, some ashes then being placed inside a hollowed-out wooden cricket ball replica to manufacture a trophy. In 2013 a new Women's Ashes trophy was produced.