Women's Ashes to feature DRS for first time

Both teams will be permitted two unsuccessful reviews per innings across the T20I and ODI series, with three each in the one-off Test

The Women's Ashes will feature the Decision Review System for the first time, when the series gets underway on Thursday.

Despite being a staple in the men's international game for more than a decade, it has been rarely implemented in women's cricket, coming out for 10 televised matches during the 2017 World Cup and in every T20 World Cup fixture since.

In bilateral series, it has continued to be used sparingly. It has been part of the English international summer since the West Indies series in 2020, while it featured during New Zealand's home series in 2019 against India, whose captain, Mithali Raj, was critical of its "irregular" use and called for its permanent deployment.

However, this will be the first time that Australia have used DRS in a home series. It had been due to make its debut when Australia hosted India at the start of their international summer, but late location changes caused by the pandemic led to insurmountable logistical issues.

Both teams will be permitted two unsuccessful reviews per innings across the T20I and ODI series, with three each in the one-off Test that was initially scheduled to open up the series before the T20I leg was brought forward in order to make room for the 10-day quarantine period that Australia and England will need to serve in New Zealand ahead of the World Cup, which begins in March.

^{England's home internationals have featured DRS since September 2020 (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)}

The debate about the lack of DRS in major women's series came to a head during the 2019 Women's Ashes, when Fran Wilson was adjudged lbw as she attempted a sweep shot. The ball hit her glove and she set off for a single, only to be given out as she ran even though the ball never even touched her pad.

Speaking in 2020, England captain Heather Knight said: "You always want the best as players, and DRS is the best. I'd imagine the reason, as usual in women's cricket, is money, as to why we don't have it.

"I think potentially not having it affects the spectacle of the game. Sometimes decisions go your way and it's obviously the same for both sides but in an ideal world we would have DRS."

"I think the girls are quite clear on how they want to go about it and I think it just takes that howler out and doesn't wreck a Test match or one-dayer," added England coach Lisa Keightley.

"We had some really crucial decisions go our way and go against us and they got overturned and the right decision was made which I suppose made both sides quite happy that we know it's there and we can call for it if we need it and it keeps the game going and we're not talking about a decision come the end of the game."

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