Ashes Test bound for Canberra as Cricket Australia announces 2021-22 fixture

An Ashes Test is coming to Manuka Oval this summer as Meg Lanning's all-conquering Australian side launches its defence of the prized trophy against England.

Canberra will host the lone Test match of the women's Ashes from January 27-30, with the series contested across all three formats of the game.

Manuka Oval will also host the Australian men's team in a Twenty20 international against New Zealand on February 8, while Prime Minister's XI fixture is set to return after a one-year exile.

Venues Canberra chief executive Matt Elkins says Cricket ACT and stadium staff have shown "we can meet any challenge" after Manuka Oval hosted 13 Big Bash matches - many on short notice - last season.

MORE SPORT

Now they will be ready to swing into action to host more games if the pandemic throws the fixture into disarray again.

"The opportunities when they come, it's really important venues show they can host and be ready to host. It was really exciting to be a part of that for Manuka Oval, but also for the ACT," Elkins said.

"What we've continued to do is be great partners with Cricket Australia and Cricket ACT, to make sure when opportunities come, we're here, we're ready. It has shown we can meet any challenge.

"If anything we've learnt from 2019 and 2020, it is to be flexible and be ready to move how we have to."

A women's Test match in Canberra looms as a major coup, marking the second of its kind at Manuka Oval after Australia's men's side hammered Sri Lanka in 2018.

Cricket ACT chief executive Olivia Thornton expects the star power of the likes of Lanning, Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy will draw big crowds.

"They've got a really high profile, as one of the highly-regarded female teams in the Australian sporting landscape. No doubt, they will bring a crowd," Thornton said.

"We will certainly be doing everything we can with the ACT government, with Cricket Australia, and within our own organisation to ensure we maximise this opportunity."

Discussions are underway about bringing both men's and women's BBL games to Canberra while the Sheffield Shield could also return to the capital.

Thornton says the long-term retention of the Prime Minister's XI fixture is "certainly a priority". Australia will host New Zealand in one-day matches and Sri Lanka in Twenty20 internationals, making those nations the contenders.

"We've spoken again internally about raising the profile of that game, it's a really important game for Canberra, for Manuka, for the ACT government," Thornton said.

"Ensuring that is on the calendar is moving forward is certainly a priority. It is on the calendar, we're just working through those finer details.

"Big Bash, both from a male and female perspective, are on the radar, WNCL from a domestic point of view, and potentially some Shield, which we haven't seen in the last little period.

"Those discussions and negotiations are currently taking place with Cricket Australia and obviously with the government."

2021-22 AUSTRALIAN SUMMER OF CRICKET

WOMEN'S SERIES v INDIA

Details to be confirmed.

MEN'S TEST

Test: November 27-December 1 - Australia v Afghanistan at Bellerive Oval

MEN'S ASHES

First Test: December 8-December 12 - Australia v England at The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-December 20 - Australia v England at Adelaide Oval (day-night)

Third Test: December 26-December 30 - Australia v England at MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-January 9 - Australia v England at SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-January 18 - Australia v England at Perth Stadium

WOMEN'S ASHES

Test: January 27-January 30 - Australia v England at Manuka Oval

First Twenty20 international: February 4 - Australia v England at North Sydney Oval

Second Twenty20 international: February 6 - Australia v England at North Sydney Oval

Third Twenty20 international: February 10 - Australia v England at Adelaide Oval

First one-day international: February 13 - Australia v England at Adelaide Oval

Second one-day international: February 16 - Australia v England at Junction Oval

Third one-day international: February 19 - Australia v England at Junction Oval

MEN'S CHAPPELL-HADLEE TROPHY

First one-day international: January 30 - Australia v New Zealand at Perth Stadium

Second one-day international: February 2 - Australia v New Zealand at Bellerive Oval (day-night)

Third one-day international: February 5 - Australia v New Zealand at SCG (day-night)

MEN'S TWENTY20 INTERNATIONALS

One-off Twenty20 international: February 8 - Australia v New Zealand at Manuka Oval

First Twenty20 international: February 11 - Australia v Sri Lanka at SCG

Second Twenty20 international: February 13 - Australia v Sri Lanka at The Gabba

Third Twenty20 international: February 15 - Australia v Sri Lanka at Carrara Stadium

Fourth Twenty20 international: February 18 - Australia v Sri Lanka at Adelaide Oval

Fifth Twenty20 international: February 20 - Australia v Sri Lanka at MCG