Heather Knight says England must take hope from a miraculous comeback in 2023 as they bid to keep the women’s Ashes alive in the opening T20 in Sydney on Monday.
England go into the match 6-0 down on the points table after Australia completed their ODI whitewash with an 86-run win in Hobart on Friday. Now the hosts need just two more points to retain the Ashes.
But all hope was not lost, Captain Knight pointed out, as her team recovered from a similar deficit two years ago to eventually tie the series 8-8.
“What we learned from the 2023 Ashes series when we were in the same position was to really focus on what you need to do in that moment,” Knight said.
“There is no doubt it will be difficult, but we will try to give our best in T20s and I think the change in format will suit us well.”
England slumped to an 86-run defeat as Australia completed a whitewash in the third ODI in Hobart.
All-rounder Freya Kemp, spinner Lindsey Smith and wicketkeeper Bess Heath are in the squad for the T20 leg as England look to re-establish their dominance over the short format after a disappointing 2024 World Cup. I will join you.
“I think that’s our real strength,” Knight added. “It’s a format the girls really enjoy and it’s fast and exciting, so it suits a lot of the characters in the group.
“I think the mental aspect will suit us as well and hopefully we can draw a line under the one-day series and come out and play on a beautiful cricket pitch and put in a really strong performance.”
Will the T20 format help England improve?
England captain Heather Knight has vowed to fight until the end.
Now that the ODI leg of the multi-format series is over, the switch to T20s will be advantageous for England.
This format is arguably the strongest in the UK. Knight’s side won seven out of eight T20s ahead of The Ashes, including a 3-0 T20 whitewash on the recent tour of South Africa.
“I think the change of format has been really good for us. T20 is one of our best formats and I think just a little bit of a reset can do us good,” Knight said.
“T20 is the format that a lot of girls like to play and we hope these changes will help us a lot.”
There will be new faces in the new format as England’s T20 squad takes over the baton from their ODI opponents for Monday’s crucial clash in Sydney.
“I think the change in format will lift everyone’s spirits and relax them,” said Nat Sciver-Brunt. “We have some new recruits who will reinvigorate us and we are looking forward to returning to Sydney.”
However, in the current rankings of the best T20 teams in the world, Australia are ranked first while England are second.
Women’s Ashes 2025 Schedule
All dates and times UK and Ireland
- First ODI: Saturday 11 January – North Sydney Oval – Australia wins by 4 wickets
- Second ODI: Monday 13 January – Junction Oval, Melbourne – Australia wins by 21 points
- Third ODI: Thursday 16 January – Hobart Ninja Stadium – Australia wins by 86 points
- First T20I: Monday 20 January 8.40am – Sydney Cricket Ground
- Second T20I: Thursday 23 January 8.40am – Canberra Manuka Oval.
- Third T20I: Saturday 25 January 8.10am – Adelaide Oval
- test: 3.30am, Thursday 30 January to Sunday 2 February – Melbourne MCG.
