A big crowd at Manuka Oval for a potential women's Ashes decider could fuel Canberra's bid for a Big Bash League licence.
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The women's Ashes series could be decided in a Twenty20 at Manuka Oval - depending on Friday night's result - with the world's best set to descend on Canberra in a bid to win the prized urn.
Millionaire Canberra businessman Mark McConnell is behind a bold BBL expansion bid and sees strong crowds on Sunday and Tuesday as a great show of support for a Twenty20 franchise in the capital.
McConnell has indicated community support of elite cricket is absolutely vital in Canberra's bid to win a BBL licence, with 2500 tickets already snapped up for the women's Ashes games.
Australia must win one of the three Twenty20 matches remaining in the multi-format series to retain the urn they won back from England two years ago following a draw in a rare Test match.
The visitors will need to win all three games to win the series - meaning some Canberra fans could be secretly praying for an English victory to keep the series alive when the sides meet in Sydney on Friday.
French revealed in August a bold plan to pack out Manuka Oval for the two Twenty20 blockbusters and hopes Canberra fans turn up in droves regardless of whether Canberra hosts two dead rubbers.
"With the draw in the Test match at North Sydney, it's certainly looking like the decider will be played in Canberra," French said.
"If not, what a fantastic way for the community to come and celebrate hopefully an Australian Ashes victory.
"Over the last five years there has been amazing development in the female game. The standard has always been really high but I think the biggest shift has been the community recognising that.
"They're recognising that our elite players are first class quality cricketers and they're worth coming to watch.
"Canberra has always been supportive of that and you're seeing that catch on in other areas now which is fantastic for the game."
A total of 2324 witnessed the final day of the Ashes Test, bringing the total for the game to 12,674 in a match that will forever be remembered for Ellyse Perry's historic double-century.
Perry's star power bodes well for Cricket ACT's hopes, given close to 1700 witnessed the 27-year-old's record-breaking partnership with Meg Lanning against South Africa in a one-day series in Canberra last November.
"The Australian women's team have a real affinity for Canberra as well," French said.
"They came specifically to Canberra for their warm-up before the Test match, playing an ACT XI, and they've spent time here before in previous seasons.
"They would be really comfortable with the conditions here at Manuka and it's a fantastic opportunity for the community to come down and watch some world class cricket."
Canberra fans are desperate for more elite cricket with tickets almost all gone for the Sydney Thunder's BBL-WBBL double header against the Melbourne Renegades on January 24.
WOMEN'S ASHES
November 17: First Twenty20 - Australia v England at North Sydney Oval, 7.10pm.
November 19: First Twenty20 - Australia v England at Manuka Oval, 2.35pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
November 21: First Twenty20 - Australia v England at Manuka Oval, 7.10pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
