England vow aggressive approach to must-win Test

England captain Heather Knight has told her players they have to earn the right to be aggressive before they go too hard chasing a win in the sole Ashes Test.

The Canberra fixture is virtually a must-win for England, given an Australia victory would secure the Ashes for the hosts and a draw would leave the tourists needing to win all three ODIs.

In contrast, a win for England would keep them well in the series but still needing a 2-1 victory in the 50-over matches.

Not helping their cause is the fact that of the 142 women's Tests played, 91 have ended in a draw.

A lack of red-ball cricket and the four-day timeframe is often pinned as reasons for the lack of results, while wet weather in Canberra also shapes as harder to overcome with no fifth day.

England are therefore well aware they must win the fixture, hoping to bowl first and set up a chase to go hard at a target on the final day.

"We've spoken about we have to make sure we had the right to be aggressive," Knight said.

"I think by trying to win that first session, win that first day and setting up the game (we can do that).

"We can't obviously go out too hard. We want to try and be aggressive, but we have to earn the right to do that if we bat scoring big first-innings runs.

"Or if we bowl it's being really disciplined ... Obviously you want to take wickets, but sometimes you search too much for them."

England have won just one Test in the past 13 years, drawing five and losing three.

As yet they haven't had a chance to properly measure up against Australia in this series, losing the first T20 after a record chase by the hosts and having the following two washed out.

There is also an injury concern around Anya Shrubsole, who hurt her ankle while batting during an England A game in Adelaide.

The right-arm veteran swing bowler trained at Manuka and the England camp were on Wednesday confident she was fit to play, but some question remains around her ability to get through a four-day game.

Knight – who said she had settled on an XI but would not reveal it in order to keep Australia guessing – also confirmed a change in approach to England's one-off Test against India last June, with an extra bowler to be added to the line-up.

Allrounder Georgia Elwiss, who is not in England's Ashes squad but is in Canberra on 'A' duties', will be omitted, with off-spinner Charlie Dean a chance to make her Test debut after Knight conceded support was needed for left-arm orthodox spinner Sophie Ecclestone.

Ecclestone bowled 64 overs across both innings against India last year, with the load taking its toll on the 22-year-old who appeared increasingly sore as the game wore on.

Uncapped fast bowler Lauren Bell was called into England's squad as cover for Shrubsole this week and presents another aggressive option with the ball.

Possible England XI: Lauren Winfield-Hill, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Charlie Dean, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Anya Shrubsole, Kate Cross

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Stella Campbell, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes (vc), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead the multi-format series 4-2

Jan 20: Australia won by nine wickets

Jan 22: No Result

Jan 23: Match Abandoned without a ball bowled

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval, 10am AEDT, 

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval (D/N), 2.10pm AEDT

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT