Brunt has taken more than 100 international wickets for England

England have recalled pace bowler Katherine Brunt, left-arm spinner Holly Colvin and all-rounder Beth Morgan for the women's Ashes tour to Australia.

They will play three one-day matches, five Twenty20 internationals before defending the women's Ashes in a four-day Test at Sydney's Bankstown Oval.

Opening bat Sarah Taylor is the only notable absentee, having opted to take a break from the international game.

England have held the women's Ashes since 2005.

They retained the trophy by virtue of a draw at Worcester in July last year.

Every cricketer dreams of a tour to Australia and I am confident that this squad will return with many successes to speak of Clare Connor

Brunt, 25, returns to the squad following a period of strength and conditioning work and will spearhead England's attack, while 21-year-old Colvin has spent the past three months studying at university.

Morgan will provide an extra option in the middle order, while academy graduates Susie Rowe and Fran Wilson retain their places after impressing on November's tour of Sri Lanka.

"Every cricketer dreams of a tour to Australia and I am confident that this squad will return with many successes to speak of, most notably with the Ashes retained," said Clare Connor, who was England's captain when the team won the Ashes six years ago and is now Head of Women's Cricket.

Australia, meanwhile, have made two changes to their squad for a short two-match tour to New Zealand at the end of December and the England series that follows in January.

All-rounder Sarah Coyte and batter Meg Lanning have been brought in to replace Clea Smith and Elyse Villani in a 14-strong squad, skippered by Alex Blackwell.

Seam bowler Julie Hunter has been included, although she is still recovering from a shoulder operation and will undergo fitness checks before departure to New Zealand.

"It's going to be a long, tough summer against very good opposition and we look forward to seeing how we match up against them," chief selector Christina Matthews commented.

England squad: C Edwards (captain, Kent), K Brunt (Yorkshire), H Colvin (Sussex), J Gunn (vice-captain, Notts), L Greenway (Kent), L Griffiths (Cheshire), I Guha (Berkshire), D Hazell (Yorkshire), H Knight (Berkshire), L Marsh (Sussex), B Morgan (Middlesex), S Rowe (Kent), C Taylor (Berkshire), F Wilson (Somerset), D Wyatt (Staffordshire).

Australia squad: A Blackwell (captain), S Nitschke (vice-captain), J Cameron, S Coyte, S Elliott, R Farrell, R Haynes, A Healy, J Hunter, M Lanning, E Osborne, E Perry, L Poulton, L Sthalekar.

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