England Women v Pakistan Women: Hosts eye Ashes boost

England batter Lydia Greenway believes limited-overs success against Pakistan will be the perfect preparation ahead of the Ashes.

Charlotte Edwards's side will play two one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches against Pakistan next week before Australia visit in August.

"We know Pakistan are a good team," said Kent left-hander Greenway.

"If we can play the sort of cricket we want to play, we can then transfer that and get momentum for the Ashes series."

Pakistan, who lost all three of their matches in the World Cup in February, visit Louth on Monday for the first one-day international before another 50-over clash at Loughborough on Wednesday.

The two Twenty20 internationals will both be played in one day on 5 July, again at Loughborough.

While the men's team were banned from talking about the Ashes earlier this summer, Greenway admits excitement is growing in the women's ranks for the visit of the Aussies.

For the first time, the Women's Ashes will be decided over all three formats of the game with the highest points total after one Test, three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s winning the series.

It is an innovative concept, and one which Greenway hopes boost exposure of the women's game.

"It's important we take care of the Pakistan series first but the new Ashes format is very exciting for us, Australia and women's cricket in general," said the 27-year-old.

"Hopefully it can generate a bit more public interest and make for a really exciting series. In the past we have only played a one-off Test match and that is a hard situation to be in but this opens it up and will make it really interesting.

"Involving all formats of the game is a really good representation of women's cricket. Twenty20 is exciting and the two longer formats are a truer test of cricket so combining the three formats is a really good idea."

England have named uncapped trio Natasha Farrant, Natalie Sciver and Lauren Winfield in their squad for the Pakistan series, and 20-year-old all-rounder Sciver is desperate to play a key role in the big summer ahead.

"It's great to be called up," she said. "Learning from people like Lydia, Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor is an experience like no other.

"I just hope I can take my opportunity when it comes."