Women’s Ashes: ‘Is England on the mend?’ raises questions about Nasser Hussain after Ashes series loss to Australia | Cricket news
Nasser Hussain played in England’s Ashes defeats in Australia and led the team to a 4-1 defeat in the 2002/03 series, so he knows what the women’s side are going through right now.
Australia retained the Women’s Ashes on Monday with a fourth win in four take an elusive 8-0 lead in the multi-format series, which resumes on Thursday with the second of three T20 internationals between the sides from 8.15am (UK time).
With the one-off Test to come and four points for the winners, there is still a chance England can draw the series 8-8 – as they did in the 2023 Women’s Ashes at home. But, having been thoroughly outplayed during the ODI whitewash series before losing the opening T20I, such resistance from Heather Knight’s side looks unlikely.
“The reaction and what happened reminds me a lot of when we played outside,” Hussain said in the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
“I don’t think we’ve been beaten – and this England women’s side hasn’t been beaten but they’ve lost their first four games. The Ashes have gone; I’ve lost them in 12 days, Heather Knight in nine days – different formats though.
“It must be a big disappointment.
“Australia showed their class. To put it in context, how good a cricketing nation is Australia, they haven’t lost an ODI series at home for 38 years! They are one of the best teams ever.
“But instead of looking at your opponents, look at your own side. Are you progressing under Knight and Jon Lewis? That’s the question to ask.”
It has been 11 years since England last won The Ashes. Knight, named captain in 2016, led the team to victory in the 2017 50-over World Cup on home soil, but England have been without a trophy since. Lewis, after taking over as head coach in 2022, instilled a more aggressive style of play, but one that has not yet brought with it additional silverware.
England crashed out of last year’s T20 World Cup early after a shock group stage defeat to the West Indies in Dubai, with former player-turned-pundit Alex Hartley saying some players “let their team down” with their fitness.
And after England’s 57-run defeat in the opening T20I on Monday, which saw them win the Ashes in Australia, Hartley said BBC Test Match Special that she believes that the current team “hung her out to dry”.claiming that Sophie Ecclestone refused to speak to her ahead of the match.
Hussain, who himself had the odd run-in with the media during his playing career – including famously holding up three fingers towards the commentary box at Lord’s after scoring a century at third in the 2002 ODI final against India – said of Hartley comments: “I think what Alex Hartley said is pretty fair.
“It’s part of her job to call it like she sees it. And it’s part of you to react; I was there, with three fingers up [Ian] Botham, [Bob] Willis and [Jonathan] Agnew.
“It’s also part of your responsibility to work with the media. But I know the odd player in the men’s game who will ask ‘who’s doing the interview?’
“She specifically questioned the fitness and the pitch. And obviously some members of the team reacted badly to that.
“It’s been a disappointing couple of weeks.”
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