ENGLAND women take on their Australian counterparts at Worcester’s New Road on Sunday (10.30am) as part of the seven-match Ashes series.

The nations contest the third and final Royal London ODI at Worcestershire’s headquarters with the sides tied at 2-2.

They will later do battle in three T20s and one Test at other grounds with two points available for a win in the shorter format and four in the longer form.

The Ashes got under way on Tuesday with the first ODI at Taunton, which England won by four wickets, before the second match at Bristol yesterday that the tourists claimed by 63 runs.

The 2015 series is the third time the Women’s Ashes have been contested across all three formats of the game.

England hope to emulate their past performances after wining 12-4 on points on home soil in 2013 and 10-8 Down Under in 2014.

Yorkshire’s Katherine Brunt, who worked as a coach with Worcestershire Cricket last year, will return to New Road as part of the England squad.

Charlotte Edwards skippers England and their 14-player squad boast a combined 807 ODI caps.

Edwards (185), Kent team-mate Lydia Greenway (121) and Nottinghamshire’s Jenny Gunn (125) have all represented England more than 100 times in 50-over cricket.

Vice-captain Heather Knight, of Berkshire, won her 50th ODI cap at Taunton.

Clare Connor, ECB director of England women’s cricket, said: “I don’t think it’s too dramatic a statement to say the 2015 Women’s Ashes contest has been possibly the most eagerly-anticipated series in the history of international women’s cricket.

“The pace at which the women’s game is evolving at the moment is extraordinary.

“This summer for the first time ever, we are seeing two fully professional international women’s teams in action with live broadcast coverage of every single ball, including the Kia Women’s Test match, on Sky Sports and BBC Radio.

“It is this level of exposure and support that will ensure the women’s game continues to grow and that will inspire women and girls everywhere to play the game.”

At Bristol, England fell 63 runs short of what would have been a record chase as the Aussies levelled the series.

Visiting skipper Meg Lanning compiled her sixth one-day international hundred and then broke England’s opening partnership with a fine run-out to help her side follow their men’s lead by levelling the series.

England captain Edwards recorded her 46th ODI half-century in response but England’s middle order could not build on the work of their top three as they attempted to surpass Australia’s 259-6.

The nation’s record successful chase is 243.

At Taunton, Surrey’s Natalie Sciver hit 66 as England started the series in successful fashion.

Sciver’s century stand with Greenway (53) helped England recover from 80-4 before both departed with the victory line in sight.

Wolverhampton-born Sussex all-rounder Georgia Elwiss and Brunt saw off the runs as England took the two points on offer.

Ellyse Perry top-scored with 78 in Australia’s 238-9 after the tourists elected to bat.

Tickets for Sunday are £10 for adults and £1 for those aged 17 and under.