By Sarah Holt

Edwards is one of England's leading batters as well as leading the team

England captain Charlotte Edwards is frustrated that their women's Ashes defence will be decided by just a single Test in Australia next month.

England won the Ashes over two Tests on home soil in 2005 but there is only room for one Test on the upcoming tour.

"It's frustrating - we'd have preferred a two or three-game series but it can't be," Edwards told BBC Sport.

"If it rains then it could be even more frustrating but we won't go looking for the draw. May the best team win."

The England squad set off on Monday knowing they face a tough task against opponents are the top-ranked side in the women's game, but 28-year-old Edwards is confident the memories of 2005 will help lift their performance.

"We are going out there as underdogs," she admitted.

"It's a massive challenge for us as Australia have shown over the last 10 years that they have been the most consistent team in the world.

"The 2005 win made cricketing history and is something that I will never forget.

New Zealand wouldn't play a Test match against us last summer and Australia only wanted to play one England coach Mark Dobson

"It gives the players real belief that we can compete and that's what is driving us on now. We will go out there and be positive."

England will play a Twenty20 match and five one-day internationals against Australia prior to the Ashes Test, which starts at the Bradman Oval in Bowral on 15 February, and afterwards will head off for more one-dayers in New Zealand.

And Edwards accepts the increasing focus on one-day cricket is seeing the women's game move further away from the Test format.

"Test matches are still relevant for England but a lot of other teams want to put their energy into the one-day game, rightly or wrongly," said the Kent player.

England coach Mark Dobson agreed: "New Zealand wouldn't play a Test match against us last summer and Australia only wanted to play one.

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"It's the way other countries are going now and Test cricket just isn't as popular."

England are determined to make the most of the one-dayers down under as they start their preparations for the 2009 World Cup, which will also take place in Australia.

"The one-day stuff is really important to us and we have our minds set on that," said Edwards.

"We want to go out there and play the way we want to be playing over the next 18 months to ensure we win the World Cup in 2009, but we also want to go to Australia and win the series too."