Double 'Ashes' Tour adds to tantalising Summer 2001 schedule

The England and Wales Cricket Board have confirmed that the Australia Women's Cricket Team will follow the men's squad to England next summer for a Test match tour and one-day international series.

The itinerary, which starts at Southgate on Monday June 18 and finishes at Headingley on Monday July 9, will take in two Tests and three one-day internationals and as current World Cup Champions, the Australian women pose a stern test for the England side.

They arrive two weeks after the men's squad who are in the UK from May 29 through to August 28, including five Test matches and a triangular series with England and Pakistan starting in June.

The women's tour has been confirmed on the eve of England women's crucial World Cup game against hosts New Zealand in the CricInfo Women's World Cup (match starts Thursday 14 December, 10.30am NZ time; Wednesday 13 December 9.30pm GMT).

England must win to have any chance of progressing to the semi-finals of the tournament, and are guaranteed tough competition again next year.

England and South Africa are currently level on 6 points, with South Africa facing Australia (13 December, 10.30am NZ time) and Ireland (16 December, 10.30am NZ time). England's last game in the round-robin stage is against New Zealand tomorrow. Teams earn 2 points for a win and one for a draw.

Australia, winners of the last World Cup, are favourites to take the title again when the 2000 competition is concluded on December 24.

TAustralia women's team arriving a couple of weeks after their male counterparts at the beginning of June 2001, the teams will play three one-day international matches and two four day Test matches.

Gill McConway, ECB National Manager for Women's Cricket said: "We are delighted that Australia have accepted our invitation to tour next summer. They are leading the way in women's cricket at present, and our players need top quality opposition.

"The England team is full of young stars learning a lot at the World Cup. Having those talented players facing the Australians across the country next summer will continue to raise awareness amongst girls that cricket is an exciting sport for them to play and watch."

Speaking on the eve of the match against New Zealand, coach Paul Farbrace said "there have been so many positives in our play since we arrived in New Zealand but so far the team have not performed to their full potential. We have, however, played better and better as the tournament progresses. Every one of our eleven will need to be at their best to beat New Zealand".

England captain Clare Connor said: "It's fantastic news, we love playing the Aussies, they are always fiercely competitive matches, and they have consistently shown they are the strongest team in the world recently.

"Our bowling and fielding have been excellent throughout the World Cup tournament and we worried Australia when we played them here. We'll keep fighting for the semi-final place and I have no doubt with more hard work we'll return stronger for the summer."