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Commentary line up for Ashes Test revealed

The historic day-night Test at North Sydney Oval will feature high-quality streaming live and free exclusively on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app

Four legends of Australian and English cricket will come together in a world-class, all-female commentary line-up when next week’s first-ever Ashes day-night Test is streamed live and free by cricket.com.au.

Aussie greats Lisa Sthalekar and Mel Jones will be joined by former England captain Charlotte Edwards and pace bowler Isa Guha in the commentary box for the sole Test of the Commonwealth Bank Women’s Ashes.


Between them, the commentary quartet have played 675 international matches including 44 Tests.

The historic day-night Test at North Sydney Oval from November 9-12 will feature high-quality streaming live and free exclusively on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app.

The enhanced coverage will include a full production unit, 360-degree coverage including super slo-mo and run out cameras, advanced and updated streaming graphics and a continuous broadcast with no holding slates.

Australian captains Meg Lanning - who is sitting out the Ashes due to injury - and Steve Smith will be among the current and former players to make special guest appearances behind the microphone.

The coverage will be delivered by Gearhouse & Input Media, and is thanks to the support of Commonwealth Bank.

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Sthalekar, who played eight Tests during a 187-match international career for Australia, told the Unplayable Podcast this week she was looking forward to joining former teammate Jones and fierce rivals Edwards and Guha in the commentary box.

"There’ll be plenty of banter in the comms box and there’s plenty of history between us from past Test matches,” Sthalekar said.

"And you can expect to hear a lot of past players floating around to be part of the Test, so it will be great to hear some of their stories.

"It should be an exciting four days and four nights."

The match will be the first time either team has played a Test with the pink ball, setting the scene for an enthralling contest under lights.

Image Id: 649F51EBFDA64D148E72E907DAD00179 Image Caption: Edwards and Guha enjoyed successful careers for England // Getty

Edwards, who called time on her 20-year England career in 2016 having played 23 matches in the whites for her country, said she was intrigued to see how the day-night encounter would play out.

"I’m massively excited, The first ever day-night Test match, I can’t wait for it to get underway,” Edwards said.

"It will be totally different. England have had one warm-up game under the lights with the pink ball, and it will be intriguing to see how the ball plays and how the women play the game."

"It will be great to be back at North Sydney Oval where a lot of the England players have good memories.”Australia currently hold a 4-2 lead in the multi-format points-based Ashes series after winning the ODI component 2-1.

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With four points on offer for the winner of the four-day Test, Australia – the current Ashes holders – can ensure the trophy remains on home soil with victory at North Sydney Oval, while England will be desperate to keep the series alive heading into the T20Is.

Watch the Women’s Ashes Test LIVE and FREE on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app, with enhanced coverage thanks to the support of Commonwealth Bank.


Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia lead England 4-2

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule


First ODI Australia won by two wickets

Second ODI Australia won by 75 runs (DLS method)

Third ODI England won by 20 runs (DLS method)

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT