The Ashes are more than just a series; they’re a rivalry steeped in history and packed with emotion. For Australian cricketers Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner, it’s a stage where players rise, rivalries ignite, and memories are forged. Ahead of the much-anticipated 2025 Women’s Ashes, Perry and Gardner sat down to share their thoughts on what makes this series so special, the challenges England presents, and their favorite memories from past encounters.
What Makes the Ashes So Special?
Ellyse Perry: “Ashy, what are you most looking forward to about the Ashes?”
Ashleigh Gardner: “Well, it’s almost as big as a World Cup. To be honest, we always speak about England, I guess being our oldest rivals. We have played a lot of cricket with and against a lot of those girls. So, we kind of know the way they operate.”
The Players to Watch
Turning the spotlight onto the opposition, Gardner asked Perry about England’s key players.
Ashleigh Gardner: “In terms of players to watch, who do you reckon are the three key players for them?”
Ellyse Perry: “It’s always going to be Nat Sciver-Brunt, probably Sophie Ecclestone, and I think Kate Cross plays a big role in their attack.”
Perry’s insights underline the formidable challenge posed by England’s experienced core, complemented by their fearless new talent.
Ashleigh Gardner: “The young players that have come in, like Maia Bouchier and Alice Capsey, who I guess play with ultimate fearlessness and sometimes can take the game away from you before you know it. But I think we have got some good players to kind of overcome those challenges.”
Bucket List Venues
The 2025 Ashes will feature a historic Day-Night Test at the MCG, a venue that holds a special place in players’ hearts. Perry expressed her excitement about playing at this iconic ground.
Ellyse Perry: “Hopefully we will be able to fill out the MCG again. Being able to play a Test match at the MCG is certainly a bucket list item for a lot of players.”
Gardner shared her favorite Test match venue and reflected on a career-defining performance of 4 for 99 and 8 for 66 in the Ashes 2023 at Trent Bridge.
Ellyse Perry: “Where is your favorite Test match venue that you have played at so far?”
Ashleigh Gardner: “Trent Bridge is always good, but I guess that is from a personal point of view.”
Ellyse Perry: “Talk us through your role in that Test match, particularly with the ball in hand in the last day and a half.”
Ashleigh Gardner: “Yeah, it was obviously fun being able to bowl on a wicket like that. It was starting to turn, which obviously as a spinner you wanted to.”
Ellyse Perry: “Did you have a favorite wicket out of the eight that you took?”
Ashleigh Gardner: “Probably getting Heather Knight out. That ball stayed low, it ragged. All in all, it was an amazing Test match for Women’s cricket.”
The 2023 Ashes Rollercoaster
The 2023 Women’s Ashes series was nothing short of a spectacle. Australia took an early lead with an 89-run victory in the Test at Trent Bridge, thanks to Gardner’s phenomenal 8-wicket haul in the second innings. Extending their dominance, they secured the first T20I, racing ahead to a 6-0 lead.
However, England fought back valiantly, winning the next two T20Is to clinch the series. Their momentum carried into the ODIs, where they leveled the points tally at 6 each. While Australia retained the Ashes with a win in the second ODI, England’s triumph in the final match ensured an unforgettable 8-8 tie.
The 2025 Ashes: A New Chapter
The stage is set for another electrifying series in 2025. The Ashes begin with ODIs in Sydney (January 12), Melbourne (January 14), and Hobart (January 16), followed by T20Is in Sydney (January 20), Canberra (January 23), and Adelaide (January 25). The grand finale will be the historic Day-Night Test at the MCG.
This Pink-ball encounter marks Australia’s first women’s Test at the venue in 75 years and the first-ever day-night Test at this ground. It will also be the first women’s Test at the MCG since 1949.
Ellyse Perry: “I reckon the amount of people that actually watched the match from back home, hearing from everyone after it, kind of makes me really excited that hopefully, given how good the last match between us was, we get a big crowd at the MCG for this one coming up.”
The 2025 Ashes promises to continue the legacy of thrilling contests, pushing boundaries, and inspiring fans worldwide. For Perry, Gardner, and cricket enthusiasts, this is more than a series—it’s a moment to cherish.
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