Heather Knight says England must take hope from their miraculous return in 2023 as they bid to keep the women’s Ashes alive with victory in the first T20 in Sydney on Monday.
England go into the match 6-0 on the points table after Australia completed an ODI whitewash with an 86-run win in Hobart on Friday.
But captain Knight didn’t give up hope and noted that her team came back from a similar deficit two years ago to eventually even the series 8-8.
Knight told a press conference: “What we learned from that 2023 Ashes series when we were in exactly the same position was to be really focused on what we needed to do in the moment.
“There is no doubt that it is going to be difficult, but we will try to give our best in T20 and I think the change in format will suit us well.”
All-rounder Freya Kemp, spinner Linsey Smith and wicketkeeper Bess Heath will join the squad for the T20 stage, as England look to reassert their dominance in the short format after a disappointing 2024 World Cup.
“I think that’s one of our real strengths,” Knight added. “It’s a format that the girls love to play and suits a lot of the characters in the group because it’s fast and exciting.
“I think the mental side will suit us as well, we can draw a line under the one-day series and come and play on a beautiful cricket ground and hopefully put in a really good performance.”