THE County Ground, Taunton is to stage the opening fixture of the 2015 Women’s Ashes Series on July 21, the ECB has announced.

England women will take on the old enemy over the course of three Royal London One-Day Internationals, three NatWest Twenty20 Internationals and one Kia Women’s Test Match with everything getting underway in Somerset on July 21.

Somerset and England women’s opening bowler, Anya Shrubsole, said: “I cannot wait to get our 2015 Women’s Ashes campaign underway in front of a home crowd at the County Ground in Taunton next summer.

“I have grown up playing cricket for Somerset and know first-hand how passionate the County Members are and how much the local public love watching cricket at the County Ground, so it is brilliant news that we will get to take on Australia there in the first Royal London ODI on July 21.”

Somerset Chief Executive Guy Lavender is pleased to see the England Women returning to The County Ground: “To have the opening Women’s Ashes fixture here is fantastic news and a great honour for the Club and the County as a whole.”

“In 2009 the County Ground was designated ‘The Home of Women’s Cricket’ to coincide with the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 tournament, which saw Somerset stage all 12 group match fixtures in the competition.

“Since then the women’s game has gathered enormous support and momentum and from a logistical point of view it made sense for the England team to be based at the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University.

“Whilst we are no longer the official Home of Women’s Cricket, it will be superb to see the England team taking to the field in the 2015 Ashes at their spiritual home.”