England coach blames WPL for lack of flexibility in Women's Ashes schedule

Much like how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has constantly borne the brunt of scheduling criticism across the world, the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the third season of which will be played in February-March 2025, has now received similar criticism. 

However, this one has come from a coach of a WPL franchise itself. Jon Lewis, England women’s head coach and also the coach of the WPL franchise UP Warriorz, said that the Women’s Ashes’ schedule got crammed since players needed complete availability for the forthcoming WPL season. 

“My preference would be that there’s more space between the games, and the players’ preference would be as well. I’m pretty sure we would have requested more space between the white ball [games] and the Test match, but the schedule came back as it was,” Lewis was quoted as saying in The Guardian. 

“It won’t be straightforward. The schedule is pretty rammed close together. There’s no flexibility because of WPL and Christmas,” he added. 

The WPL begins officially on February 19. The Women’s Ashes on the other hand ends on February 2nd. Between January 12 and February 2nd, Australia and England women will face each other in three T20Is, three ODIs and a four-day Pink ball Test.

England’s Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Dani Gibson will all be taking part in WPL 2025.

Conversely, Australia’s Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux will also be part of the 2025 WPL and hence would have to reach India earlier than February 19 to fulfil commitments.