TAUNTON, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Beth Mooney of Australia bats during day four of the Kia Women's Test Match between England Women and Australia Women at The Cooper Associates County Ground on July 21, 2019 in Taunton, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Despite an enthralling Test leg of the Women's Ashes series, Australia could return to a drought of red-ball matches as part of their cricketing calendar in the coming years.

Australia narrowly missed out on a stunning victory over England at Manuka Oval last week, having also avoided near-defeat to the tourists with the match concluded as a draw with Meg Lanning's side needing one more wicket for victory.

The thrilling result sparked widespread calls for Test cricket to become a more prominent feature in the Women's schedule, however those desires are to come to no avail as the ICC plans the next cycle of touring nations to arrive on Australian shores.

According to cricket.com.au, Pakistan and the West Indies are set to feature as part of Australia's next series, two nations that haven't played Test cricket in 18 years.

It is understood the two sides would be reluctant to rekindle pulling on their whites cricket as a priority, leaving Australia to return to focus on white-ball formats.

Australia are then set to follow with matchups against South Africa and New Zealand, with the likelihood of Test cricket containing to be faint given their recent reluctance to play Tests.

A multi-formatted Ashes series in 2023 could be Australia's next chance of featuring in the longer format, however any match of the sort would occur on tour of the UK and not on home soil.

That would leave Australia's next home Test schedule to potentially be another four years away as India and England make the trip down under.

“We are working through the new women’s Future Tours Program at the moment," a Cricket Australia representative told cricket.com.au. 

"Cricket Australia is supportive of playing as much Test cricket as is practical, as evidenced by hosting Test matches versus both India and England as part of multi-format series this season, while supporting the global growth of the women's game.

"The Ashes Test at Manuka Oval was utterly compelling viewing and Sunday was our most watched day of women's Test cricket on record."

There is currently no Test match scheduled in Women's cricket for the foreseeable future, however there is reported hope the upcoming series between England and South Africa later this year potentially following the format of the 2022 Ashes series.

Embed from Getty Images

With calls for continued Test cricket set to continue, the demands for the Women's game to extend to five days as opposed to the current format of four will also be amplified.

After claiming victory in the Test leg, Australia will be looking to continue their unbeaten run following two no result T20 matches, with three ODI fixtures set to conclude the series this week.