21 Days Of Summer

England Women - August 2013

As you can see from the attached calendar, England's entire summer this year is packed into the space of just 21 days in August; with an Ashes test, 3 ODIs and 3 T20s - all v. Australia.

I understand that financial considerations loom large here - with the cost of the teams' hotels coming in at (on the back of an envelope) well over £15,000 per week; but still, it does seem to be taking a huge gamble on the notorious roulette wheel that is the English weather.

In fact... I'll go long and call the test right now - as a rain-affected draw! Ditto the last T20 in "sunny" Durham. (Can I get an accumulator on that Paddy?)