Heather Knight says England must hope for a miracle comeback in 2023 as they look to keep the Women’s Ashes alive with victory in the opening T20 in Sydney on Monday.
England are 6-0 down in the points table after Australia completed an ODI whitewash with an 86-run win in Hobart on Friday.The hosts now need just two points to retain the Ashes.
But captain Knight has not lost all hope and pointed to his side’s recovery from a similar deficit two years ago to eventually end the series at 8-8.
“What we learned from the 2023 Ashes series, when we were in the same position, was to really focus on what we had to do in the moment,” Knight said.
“There’s no doubt it’s going to be tough, but we’ll try to bring our best to T20 and I think the change in format will suit us well.”
England suffered an 86-run defeat as Australia finished in the third ODI in Hobart.
All-rounder Freya Kemp, spinner Lynsey Smith and wicketkeeper Bess Heath will join the squad for the T20 game as England look to reassert their dominance over the shorter format after a disappointing 2024 World Cup.
“I think that’s our real strength,” Knight added. “It’s a format that the girls really like to play and it 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 go out and play on a nice cricket ground and hopefully put on a really strong performance.”
Will the T20 format help England improve?
England captain Heather Knight has promised to continue fighting until the end
With the ODI leg of the multi-format series now over, the transition to T20s should favor England.
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 the 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 a little reset will do us good,” Knight said.
“T20 is a format that a lot of girls like to play and I hope that change will do us very well.”
There are new faces in the new format as England’s T20 team takes over from their ODI counterparts for Monday’s pivotal clash in Sydney.
“I think the change of format will lift the spirits and loosen everyone up,” Nat Sciver-Brunt said.
However, Australia top the rankings of the world’s best T20 team, while England are 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
- Second ODI. Monday, January 13 – Junction Oval, Melbourne – Australia won by 21 runs
- Third ODI. Thursday 16 January – Ninja Stadium, Hobart – Australia won by 86 runs
- First T20I. 8.40, Monday, January 20 – Sydney Cricket Ground
- Second T20I. 8.40am, Thursday 23 January – Manuka Oval, Canberra
- Third T20I. 8.10, Saturday, January 25 – Adelaide Oval
- Testing. 3.30 Thursday 30 January – Sunday 2 February – MCG, Melbourne
