England captain Heather Knight vows to preserve women’s Test format ahead of Ashes series

England women’s cricket team captain Heather Knight has said that her team is fighting for the format ahead of their historic Ashes Test series against Australia. The upcoming event will see the women’s team play their first five-day test match in over 30 years, which will not only test their stamina but also gauge public interest in longer form women’s games. The success of shorter formats, such as the Hundred and the Women’s IPL, has led many to believe that women’s cricket is not suited to lengthy test matches. However, Knight and her team remain defiant, determined to secure the future of women’s cricket and ensure future generations can continue to play test cricket. England legend Lydia Greenway noted the importance of the upcoming Ashes series and the trailblazers of the women’s game. The winners of the test match will be awarded four points, with two points each for a draw and victories in each of the white-ball games. Ticket sales have been record-breaking, with over 11,000 sold by the start of June, and the match is expected to draw a large crowd.