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The scars may be less, but the scale of the challenge remains.
England begin their latest quest for the Ashes in Australia, emboldened by the home show 18 months ago and sensing an opportunity, Australia bruised, but nonetheless aware that the decade-long trend will have to be reversed.
Heather Knight’s side kick off the multi-format series at the First One-Day International in Sydney on Saturday night, looking to win an Ashes series for the first time since the winter of 2013/14 and win back the trophy held by the Australians. since he snatched it in the English summer of 2015.
The 2023 equivalent was a blockbuster, with England coming back from six runs down to level the series at 8-8, with Australia ultimately retaining the Ashes thanks to a gripping three-run win in the penultimate ODI at Southampton .
“This home Ashes summer has been really important in terms of getting white-ball results,” spinner Charlie Dean said this week, with England moving ahead in the T20 and ODI stages. “We didn’t get an Ashes win, but we felt like we worked hard and the momentum was with us in this series.
“It feels like we don’t have as many scars in the group from previous games. This Ashes home summer has really brought some positive feelings around the Ashes and what we can do.”
If this series showed rare chinks in Australia’s formidable armor, they were most fully exposed at last year’s T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, where New Zealand were surprise champions and their cousins Anzac, the eternal holders, did not even manage to qualify for the final for the first time. time since 2009.
This Australian failure, however, was rare in that it stung England almost as much. After waiting so long for their rivals to fade away, Knight’s side were not there to capitalize, already eliminated in the group stage.
That disappointment was accompanied by further intense criticism at home, much of it stemming from comments from 2017 World Cup winner Alex Hartley, who accused some players of “letting the team down on fitness”.
Dean launched another defense of England’s physical preparation ahead of this series opener, insisting their World Cup failure was down to “cricket things”.
“I don’t think the reason we lost the World Cup was because of our fitness,” she said. “You lose a match and you’re out. I don’t think our physical fitness is in question at all. We are professional athletes and we all work hard in our own way.
Fitness – or at least durability – will undoubtedly be a topic of fierce conversation throughout a series with an almost demonic schedule. The whole thing – three ODIs and three T20s worth two points each, followed by a Test match worth four – takes place over three weeks, with trips to a new city between each match. England were not helped by the fact that their only warm-up match was called off after 28 overs this week.
Head coach Jon Lewis insists his team is ready, but has also led the response to schedule congestion that will see him manage his resources – including an exciting bowling group led by Lauren Filer – with a little more care than would be ideal under such a marquee. series.
Players from both teams also demanded an extension of the test phase of the series to three matches. Aside from the obvious benefit of providing more women’s Test cricket, the single competition currently has too much influence on the series, providing half the points holders need to retain the Ashes in one fell swoop.
This winter’s Test – a four-day day-night game – has at least been moved to the end of the series; In 2023, an opening defeat left England with an unfathomable task in having to win five of six white-ball matches – although they almost succeeded.
The aim for the tourists this time will be to ensure they are still alive by the time they arrive at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, hosting a women’s Test for the first time since 1949, at the end of the month.
“We think we’re closing the gap,” Dean added. “They have been very dominant over the last ten years, but we know that when Australians get tested, it only inspires them to do greater things.
“I hope we can face them with the same attitude and energy as at home.”
