Former England coach Mark Lane has thrown his support behind the new Women’s Ashes format, which he thinks will make the contest "a bit more of a spectacle”.
Lane stood down from the role he successfully held for five years on the same mid-May day that the multi-format Women’s Ashes was unveiled.
Rather than one four-day Test deciding the outcome, a same-length Test, three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals will dictate the victors. Six points will be awarded to the winners of the Test and two for victory in each limited-overs international. The side with the most points at the end of the series will secure the urn.
Lane coached England during two Ashes Tests after being appointed in April 2008, seeing them retain the urn in July 2009 via a draw at New Road, Worcester, but lose it in January 2011 with defeat at Sydney’s Bankstown Oval.
The 45-year-old hinted he would like to see more women’s Tests but in the absence of those he is happy that the Ashes - for which England yesterday named their squads - is spread over seven games.
“It makes the Ashes a bit more of a spectacle,” he told ecb.co.uk. “It’s very difficult to decide such an important thing as the Ashes just on a single Test match, and I can understand the reasons behind not having more Test matches, time and the like.
“I think expanding into the 50-over and the Twenty20, I think it’s a great thing because it’ll carry the weight of it - not just at Wormsley but when they go off to Durham and Southampton. Everyone’s going to feel a part of that particular tournament, the Ashes.”
The reference Lane makes to the Emirates Durham ICG and the Ageas Bowl relates to T20Is being played there immediately before England men and Australia men meet in the same format.
Indeed, with those matches completing the Ashes programme, the series could be decided in front of large crowds. That is not to say the Women’s Ashes will not draw spectators in droves to the Test at Wormsley from Sunday, followed by an ODI at Lord’s and two at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground ahead of T20Is at Chelmsford, Southampton and Durham respectively.
Lane oversaw plenty of limited-overs internationals versus Australia, including en route to World Cup and World Twenty20 glory in 2009.
However, those two Ashes Tests also stick in his mind. In the first England, set 273 to win, batted for the draw that they achieved with seven wickets spare. In the second Australia won a low-scoring game, reaching a target of 198 with three wickets down.
Speaking of the former before reflecting further on the fresh format, Lane recalled: “We had that situation at Worcester and it didn’t give a true reflection over winning the Ashes if you like.
“I just think it’s a really good step forward for the game and hopefully that will continue when they go over to Australia next year.”