Pessimistic predictions about the weather in Worcester on Sunday proved correct. No play was possible between England and the Southern Stars due to unrelenting rain, triggering the rescheduling of the match at New Road to Monday.

The forecast for Monday is much more positive, with no more than scattered showers predicted.

The key reason reserve days were allotted to each of the three one-dayers is because in addition to the results going towards the women's Ashes series they also contributed to qualifying for the 2017 World Cup.

While the match could have gone ahead with as few as 20 overs per side on Sunday had the weather allowed it, and also could have started on Sunday and finished on Monday in possibly vastly different weather conditions, both teams welcomed the chance – weather-permitting – play a full-length 50-over match on Monday.

"You'd like to see a full game and that's the benefit of having a full day, particularly [with] this being part of the ICC Women's Championship as well, to have that option up your sleeve," said the Stars' Jess Jonassen. "The more that we get to play the better."

England fast-bowler Kate Cross echoed those sentiments, arguing playing the match exclusively on Monday rather than a shortened match on Sunday or one that straddled both days "will probably be a fairer game".

"I think both teams want it to be played that way rather than starting the game today and finishing it off tomorrow, because I don't think anyone has played a game of cricket like that before," said Cross.

"We know these games are twice as important, obviously with them counting towards the championship as well. It's all to play for.

"Obviously for us we need eight points [to guarantee retention of the Ashes] and they need 10 points [to guarantee regaining them], but at the moment we're just trying to win as many games as we can, as soon as we can."

The winner of the series is based on points, with two points on offer in all six limited-overs matches and four in the Test. If England are able to win the third one-dayer and also the Test - the latter will be played next month in Canterbury – they will retain the Ashes, while if the Stars win both they will regain the women's Ashes unless the hosts win all three Twenty20s at the end of the series.

The reporter is covering the women's Ashes with the support of Cricket Australia