English captain Heather Knight remains upbeat despite the challenging road ahead after Australia completed an ODI sweep in the Women’s Ashes 2025.
The 86-run win in Hobart gave the Aussies a commanding 6-0 lead in the multi-format series. To regain the Ashes, England must win all three upcoming T20Is and the one-off Test.
“It’s going to be hard,” Knight admitted in a recent interview. “But we’ve been here before. The last Ashes series was 6-0 and we managed to turn it around. We’re still alive, we’re still in it and we have to keep believing.”
Missed opportunities in Hobart ODI
England produced their best performance of the series in Hobart, initially reducing Australia to 59 for four. However, they faltered at critical moments with both bat and ball, allowing the hosts to post a daunting score. Despite being level at the halfway point of their chase, England failed to capitalise.
“We have to keep our composure,” Knight remarked. “At those key moments when the game was on the line, Australia managed to deal with them really well, while we couldn’t seize the moment and gain any advantage.”
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The format change offers hope
England’s preparations for the next stages of the Ashes include a strategic focus on player fitness.
Kate Crosswho was close to playing in Hobart, rested to avoid aggravating his back injury. Cross will now focus on training for the Melbourne Test, which starts on January 30 Tammy Beaumont and Ryan MacDonald-Gay. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad will turn their attention to T20Is.
Knight is optimistic about the change in format, seeing T20 cricket as one of England’s strengths. “The format change will be very good for us,” she said. “T20 cricket is one of our best formats and that little reset will serve us well.”
With renewed focus and belief, England will look to turn their fortunes around in the T20I leg of the series, keeping alive their hopes of winning the Ashes.
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This article was first published on WomenCricket.comand Cricket times company.
