by Head coach Jon Lewis has insisted England will be ready for the start of the Women’s Ashes this weekend, despite abandoning their only warm-up match.
After several rain delays, the match against the Australian Governor-General’s XI was reduced to 35 overs per team before the weather ended the home side’s innings at 183 for eight in 28.2 overs.
England were given a revised target of 188 in 28 overs, but play did not resume at the North Sydney Oval.
“We obviously would have liked to play more cricket, but it is what it is, we can’t control the weather,” Lewis told cricket.com.au.
“The players are ready, we have played a lot of cricket in the last four or five months…. they played non-stop from the World Cup to South Africa, and we had a very short break, so they came here and they feel like they’ve picked up the slack.
Lewis also ignored the problems faced by fast bowler Lauren Filer, who slipped repeatedly in greasy conditions and conceded 33 runs from her 2.5 overs.
“It’s a very similar thing to what Mark Wood does and it was a bit greasy there,” Lewis added.
“It wasn’t ideal for her, but we’re hoping the wicket on Sunday will be a little less grassy and a little drier.
“I don’t think it affected his confidence, it affected his execution. She is quite confident about her situation. She played well there, at the pace she normally would, because it was just kind of hard to get up.
Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the English bowlers as she removed both openers and finished with figures of three for 27 from five overs.
Kate Cross did not feature as she continues to recover from back spasms which ended her tour of South Africa, but Lewis said: “She played today at Cricket Central, she is progressing well .
“We’re just waiting to see how she does on Saturday, and then we’ll make a decision after that.”
The first one-day international match will take place on Sunday in Sydney.
