England head coach Jon Lewis says his side are in a “really good place” for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, which he describes as cricket's “toughest challenge”.
Lewis' side bounced back from their T20 World Cup disappointment with a dominant multi-format win in South Africa earlier this month.
The Women's Ashes series begins on January 11 with three ODIs, followed by three T20s and one Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 30.
Lewis said: “We've come off the back of a really successful tour of South Africa, which gave us a really good preparation.
“We are in a very good place. We've spent a lot of time thinking about what happened at the World Cup and we're in a better place now than when we got on the plane to South Africa.
“It's a tough, tough challenge. Is it the hardest challenge? Yes, probably, almost.
“Winning the 50-over World Cup in India is also a big challenge, so 2025 is a huge year for us. We have two very different challenges that we're really looking forward to.”
England, captained by Heather Knight, are bidding to win The Ashes for the first time in 10 years, with Australia holding them off in a thrilling series in England 2023.
Australia also bounced back from a T20 World Cup disappointment – losing to South Africa in the semi-finals – by beating India 3-0 in their one-day international series.
Lewis added: “Their record has to be respected and as a team they have to be respected and we're really aware of how tough a challenge it will be to play our best cricket in Australia.
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Watch highlights as England beat South Africa by 286 runs in Bloemfontein to win the one-off Test in three days
“I guess we will focus more on ourselves and how we want to play than on the opposition.
“If we play our best cricket it will be a competitive series and I hope everyone has a good time like they did in England a few years ago.
“We're pretty confident, but we also understand how big a challenge it is for any team to play against Australia.”
Australia retained the 2023 Ashes after a thrilling series draw in England
England have named four potential Ashes debutants in their squad.
All-rounder Freya Kemp and spinner Linsey Smith have both been named in the T20 squad and wicketkeeper Bess Heath has been included in the T20 and Test squads as the trio bid for their Ashes debuts.
Seamer Ryan MacDonald-Gay has also been included in the Test squad after impressing on debut on the recent tour of South Africa.
Nat Sciver-Brunt will be a key figure for England in their quest for The Ashes, after a stellar year which culminated in her hitting the fastest women's Test century against South Africa off just 96 balls.
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's 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).
Women's Ashes 2025 Schedule
UK dates and times
CommBank Women's Ashes ODI Series
- First ODI: North Sydney Oval, Sydney – Saturday 11 January (11.30pm)
- Other ODIs: Junction Oval, Melbourne – Monday 13 January (23.05)
- Third ODI: Bellerive Oval, Hobart – Thursday 16 January (11.05pm)
CommBank Women's Ash IT20 Series
- First IT20: SCG, Sydney – Monday, January 20 (8.40am)
- Other IT20: Manuka Oval, Canberra – Thursday 23 January (8.40am)
- Third IT20: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – Saturday 25 January (8.10)
CommBank Women's Ashes Test Match
- One time test: MCG, Melbourne – 30 January to 2 February (3.30am)
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