ASHES fever will grip the city next year when New Road hosts one of England Women’s ODIs against arch-enemy Australia.
Worcestershire County Cricket Club will host the third and final Royal London ODI on Sunday, July 26, which will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports and BBC Radio.
The match adds to a feast of international cricket at New Road next summer with Worcestershire playing a four-day match against New Zealand beforehand in May as part of the Black Caps’ preparations for the series with England.
The women’s game will be part of England’s bid to retain the Ashes across seven matches throughout the summer which include one Test Match, three ODIs and three Twenty20 internationals.
Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: “To be hosting an Ashes match and a game against New Zealand is excellent news.
“The Ashes game will be televised and will be great coverage for the women’s game and for the game locally.
“The England Women have been at the forefront for the last two or three years. They are fully professional and centrally contracted and played some fantastic cricket.
“We’ve also had a link with Katherine Brunt who has been doing some coaching work with the Worcestershire Cricket Board on the recreational side over the last five or six months.”
England Women’s captain Charlotte Edwards said she was relishing the opportunity to play at New Road.
“I’m already really looking forward to heading to Worcester and playing in front of a passionate local crowd next summer,” she said.
“It is always good to play at new venues and spread the women’s international game across the country.”