Following the success of the Australian men’s cricket team in their 4-0 Ashes triumph, the Australia women’s cricket team cannot wait to begin their Ashes series against England this Thursday.
The home, multi-format series will feature three T20 Internationals, a Test match and three One-Day Internationals, held across Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne.
With Test matches a rarity in the women’s game, Australian fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck is thrilled to take part in two Tests this summer, after Australia’s lone Test against India in September last year.
Before that match, Australia had not played a game in the format since the 2019 Ashes series abroad.
“Test matches are always massive,” Vlaeminck told Wide World of Sports.
“For most of the girls in the squad, they grew up watching Test cricket, and I know for me personally, sitting at home over Christmas time watching the boys run in and bowl for days on end was something I really enjoyed.
“I think everyone wants the opportunity to do that.
“You normally play one (match) and then wait two years for your next opportunity in an Ashes Test, so to get two in one year is pretty special.”
The four-day Test will take place at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, with Vlaeminck forecasting a shift in tempo when the match finally rolls around in the schedule.
“The week before the Test at training, you get the red balls out and everyone’s energy and intensity just goes up that little bit,” she said.
Taking part in her second Ashes campaign, the 23-year-old is primed as one of Australia’s main weapons.
“I tend to bowl a lot through the power play and just try to run in and bowl fast to try and take some wickets upfront, so that’s my job for the team,” she said.
“I’m a pretty competitive player, so for me, it is just about getting in the contest and running hard to do everything I can for the team.”
While Australia retained the last Ashes, Vlaeminck expects a few key differences to shake up the upcoming series.
“The wickets will be harder,” she said.
“The wickets over there (in England) are often bowler-friendly I suppose.
“The squad is also a little different since that last tour, so there are some new faces in our team and England’s as well.”
With the release of a star-studded 15-player squad, headlined by big names such as Meg Lanning, Alyssa Healy, Megan Schutt and Ellyse Perry to name a few, Vlaeminck labelled emerging talents Tahlia McGrath and fellow fast bowler Darcie Brown as two new players to keep an eye on.
“We saw what Tahlia McGrath did in that India series earlier in the summer, she was amazing,” said Vlaeminck.
“She single-handedly won us a handful of games, she was whacking the ball and bowling really well.
“So hopefully, she can continue that form into this series.
“Then you have Darcie Brown as well,” Vlaeminck continued.
“She’s a young fast bowler who bowls wheels, so I’m really pumped to see what she does this series as well.
“Hopefully at some point during the series there will be an opportunity to get out there at the same time because I think that would be really good fun and we could hopefully make an impact together.”
Although, Vlaeminck also highlighted the threat posed by well-known players in the England squad that have taken part in the WBBL for a few years, such as Issy Wong.
The women’s Ashes series gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Thursday 20 January with the first T20I match.
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