Heather Knight: England captain says 2023 Ashes return against Australia gives hope in bid to keep series alive | Cricket news

Heather Knight says England must look to their miraculous comeback in 2023 for hope as they bid to keep the women’s Ashes alive with victory in the T20 opener in Sydney on Monday.

England go into the match with a 6-0 deficit on the points table after Australia wrapped up the ODI with an 86-run victory in Hobart on Friday. The hosts now need just two more points to retain the Ashes.

But captain Knight did not lose all hope and highlighted her side’s recovery from a similar deficit two years ago to eventually level the series 8-8.

“What we learned from that 2023 Ashes series when we were in the same position is that we need to be really focused on what we have to do at the moment,” Knight said.

“No doubt it will be tough but we will try to give our best in T20 and I think the change of format will suit us well.”

All-rounder Freya Kemp, spinner Linsey Smith and wicketkeeper Bess Heath will join the squad for the T20 leg as England look to reassert their dominance of the shorter format after a disappointing 2024 World Cup.

“I think that’s our real strength,” Knight added. “It’s a format that girls really like to play and that suits a lot of 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 go out and play on a beautiful cricket ground and hopefully show a really good game.”

Will the T20 format help England improve?

With the ODI leg of the multi-format series now over, the switch to T20s should work in England’s favour.

The format is arguably England’s strongest, with Knight’s side winning seven of their eight T20s ahead of The Ashes, including a 3-0 T20 whitewash on their recent tour of South Africa.

“I think the format change is really good for us. T20 is one of our best formats and I think that bit of a reset will help us,” Knight said.

“T20 is a format that a lot of girls like to play and I hope this change will do us a lot of good.”

With the new format comes fresh faces as England’s T20 team takes over from their ODI counterparts for Monday’s crucial clash in Sydney.

“I think the change of format will lift the mood and relax everyone,” said Nat Sciver-Brunt. “There are new recruits who will bring us energy, we are looking forward to returning to Sydney.”

However, Australia currently tops the rankings for the best T20 team in the world, with England in second place.

Women’s Ashes 2025 schedule

All dates and times UK and Ireland

• First ODI: Saturday, January 11 – North Sydney Oval – Australia won by four wickets
• Other ODIs: Monday 13 January – Junction Oval, Melbourne – Australia won by 21 runs
• Third ODI: Thursday 16 January – Ninja Stadium, Hobart – Australia won by 86 runs
• First T20I: 8.40am Monday 20th January – Sydney Cricket Ground
• Second T20I: 8.40am Thursday 23 January – Manuka Oval, Canberra
• Third T20I: 8.10am Saturday January 25 – Adelaide Oval
• Test: 3.30am Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February – MCG, Melbourne