Cross pushes for women’s five-day Tests

England go into an ashes Test tonight that they cannot afford to lose with calls growing for the introduction of a fifth day to encourage more results in women’s red-ball cricket.

The tourists are 4-2 down in the multi-format series and defeat in the four-day Test in Canberra would condemn the women to follow England’s men in conceding the ashes.

The last three women’s Tests have all ended in draws and England have not won a red-ball match since their victory at the WaCa in 2013-14, the last time they lifted the ashes.

and the chances of them forcing the positive result in four days — that would give them a 6-4 lead ahead of three one-day matches that conclude the ashes — are weakened by an uncertain weather forecast in the australian capital.

But England fast bowler Kate Cross, who returns to the side tonight after missing the three Twenty20 matches, echoed England captain Heather Knight’s view that the time has come for women’s Tests to replicate the men’s. ‘I think historically our Tests have been four days to fit around tour schedules and apparently because women weren’t fit enough for five days,’ said Cross, who

made her Test debut in that Perth victory eight years ago. ‘But I think we’re ready. If you play five days you will get more results in women’s Test matches, it’s as simple as that.

‘The good thing is we know the last time we had a result in a Test was in australia and the quicker pitches here do usually produce results. But we can dine out on the 2014 game as much as we like. This is a different pitch and different sets of players but I like to think my game has developed a lot since then.’

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