Widespread calls for more women's Tests as long wait looms for Australia's next red-ball cricket on home soil

Australia's women may have to wait up to four years to play another home Test, with the thrilling Ashes finish no silver bullet for more certainty on red-ball cricket.

Sunday's final hour in Canberra capped arguably the best women's Test played, with all four possible results still on the table into the last over as England chased 257 for victory in 48 overs and finished nine wickets down.

An average of more than 430,000 viewers tuned in for the final session, peaking at 558,000 to make it the most-watched day of women's Test cricket in history, with streaming numbers not yet included.

The match has prompted widespread calls for more women's Tests, but as things stand not one is locked into the ICC's calendar.

England will host South Africa this winter, and there is some hope a multi-format series similar to the Ashes can be played to include a Test.

For Australia, the wait will likely be longer.

No future tours program has been released for the women.

Pakistan and West Indies are the next teams due to tour following the current cycle, after last visiting in 2014-15.

Neither of those nations have played a Test since 2004, and they are extremely unlikely to do so again soon.

New Zealand and South Africa could be options when they next tour, but both would again be no certainty to feature in a Test.

Australia will play an away Test during the 2023 Ashes, but it means their next home one may not be until India or England next return as late as 2025-26.

Coach Matthew Mott conceded the wait could indeed be for those teams to return, after a Canberra fixture featuring the fastest scoring in women's Test history and a wicket fall every nine overs on average.

«It was a great advertisement for the women's cricket, and particularly Test match