Women's Ashes MCG Test a thrilling prospect for Australia captain Alyssa Healy

Australia captain Alyssa Healy says the Women's Ashes day-night Test likely won't break all-time attendance records, but is excited to keep trying new things to move the game forward.

Healy was speaking to ABC Sport two weeks before the first game of the multi-format series and just over a month before the start of the day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to wrap up the Ashes.

The last time a Women's Ashes series featured a pink-ball Test was 2017, when Ellyse Perry scored a double century in front of a few thousand people at suburban North Sydney Oval.

2025 Women's Ashes schedule Jan 12: First ODI at North Sydney Oval

First ODI at North Sydney Oval Jan 14: Second ODI at Junction Oval

Second ODI at Junction Oval Jan 17: Third ODI at Bellerive Oval

Third ODI at Bellerive Oval Jan 20: First T20 at SCG

First T20 at SCG Jan 23: Second T20 at Manuka Oval

Second T20 at Manuka Oval Jan 25: Third T20 at Adelaide Oval

Third T20 at Adelaide Oval Jan 30-Feb 2: Only Test at MCG

The Fig Tree Lane venue may have been closer to capacity than the 100,000-seat MCG will be come the 2025 edition, but Healy said she would rather try something new and exciting than play it safe.

"We're acutely aware that there's not going to be 87,000 people coming through the gates on every day, but [someone] was asking me, 'Would you rather play at North Sydney in front of 4,000 or challenge the norm and play at the MCG and see how many we can get?'" she told ABC Sport on day three of the men's Boxing Day Test.

"For sure, the MCG. We grew up watching Test cricket just like everybody else and wanting to run out in our baggy greens.

"So, having that opportunity is really cool."

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Healy and the women's team are no strangers to drawing a crowd to the 'G having won the T20 World Cup in from of 86,174 fans in 2020.

The last time Australia's women played a Test at the MCG was in 1949, meaning the first day of the Test will be 76 years exactly since day three of that game against England.

In that three-Test series, Betty Wilson topped the run-scoring for Australia, and the wicket-taking for both teams.

Healy said she recently donned Wilson's playing kit for a promotional shoot and it was a good reminder of just how far the game has come.

Betty Wilson was an all-round superstar for Australia in the 40s and 50s. (Getty Images: S&G/PA Images)

"The culotte is no longer a thing, and the long sock — I can safely say that [uniforms have come a long way]," she said.

"I can't imagine bending down behind the stumps wearing that … we look more like cricketers now thankfully. A lot more sun safety as well, which is good."

The 34-year-old has not had to bend down behind the stumps of late after missing three ODIs against India with a knee injury before returning to play against New Zealand but not wicketkeeping.

Healy said she planned to take the gloves for the Governor-General's XI game against England on January 9, three days before the first 50-over game of the Ashes.

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