The former England star believes the women’s fixture should not be overlooked after the men’s 2027 Ashes schedule was announced without a Test in the north
Katherine Sciver-Brunt believes the narrative around there being “no Northern Ashes Test” next summer is clumsy, pointing out that England’s women will take on Australia in a Test at Headingley. The former England star believes the women’s fixture should not be overlooked after the men’s 2027 Ashes schedule was announced without a Test in the north, with Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl instead handed its first Ashes Test.
Barnsley native Sciver-Brunt is delighted Headingley will still host Ashes cricket and believes it could provide the perfect stage for England’s women to make a statement. When asked about whether the men’s side had forgotten that the women’s team would be playing in the north, Sciver-Brunt said: “From that perspective, yes, it’s not the best way for them to have thought about that as a whole, because this is England, this is one team.
“So, probably not the best wording, but I think it was probably meant in a good way. But not a great deal of thought in that moment. From a selfish perspective, they were thinking it would have been nice to have some northern games, and I agree with them, they should have a Northern fixture. But it would be nice for them to think about us as well.”
The Headingley Test will be worth four points in the multi-format women’s Ashes and will kick off the series next summer. Sciver-Brunt is particularly excited about the prospect of England playing a Test in Yorkshire, a county where the men have produced some famous Ashes moments, including in 2019 and 1981, when Ben Stokes and Ian Botham respectively both dragged England to unlikely victories.
“I’m obviously a Yorkshire girl, so the more the merrier at Headingley,” she said. “This will be, for me, a brilliant Test match. It’ll be really difficult because it is such a good cricket wicket. It will be a really tough game, but there’ll be a result. With Charlotte now having got into the team, she’s got a squad together, she sort of knows what she wants and the direction in which they’re going – they can absolutely win it.”
And while she accepts Australia could start as favourites, Sciver-Brunt believes England have enough time and talent to close the gap. She singled out Freya Kemp for particular praise, insisting the all-rounder has made huge strides over the past 18 months and could be a major player in the Ashes.
“I think Freya is leading the way in terms of development,” added Sciver-Brunt. “And by development, I mean all areas, the mental and physical side. Her bowling has come on a long way. Her batting is now unbelievably good. She’s very, very good. Her fielding is second to none. She ticks every box and is an incredible person to work with as well. She’s got the head for it. And especially big moments seem not to faze her.”
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