England are looking to successfully defend the Women’s World Cup after beating India in the final at Lord’s in 2017; Heather Knight’s starting campaign against Australia, just weeks after being thrashed by the same team at The Ashes; watch every World Cup match live on Sky Sports from March 4
Heather Knight’s England defend the 50+ World Cup champions after beating India in the 2017 final at Lord’s
England captain Heather Knight says her team “have a point to prove” when they take on Australia in the Women’s World Cup after being beaten by the same team in the Ashes.
Knight’s team lost 12-4 to Australia in the multi-format series throughout January and February, with the only points they have collected coming from two rain-suspended T20 internationals and a draw in the independent Test match.
England, who beat India in the 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s, begin their title defense against Australia on Saturday 5 March, live on Sky Sports from 12.30am
Knight believes his side can take positives from the way they overcame “big moments” during their success at home five years ago.
“We have Australia first and it’s clear we have a point to prove as a team,” he told reporters on Friday.
“Australia will come in as favorites with the Ashes series we just had against them, but I think it should give us a lot of experience of what it takes to be successful in these events.
“Sometimes it’s just about getting over the line and I think that’s what we did so well in 2017.
“We were just able to win those games that were really tight, we were able to keep our composure in the big moments and deal with everything else that comes with a World Cup.
“Five years is a long time and Australia have been the standout team in that period so I rightly think they deserve that tag of favourites, but I certainly think as a team on our day we can beat them.”
England lost each of the three women’s Ashes ODIs, by 27 runs, five wickets and eight wickets respectively, while Australia managed 29 wins from their previous 30 one-day internationals.
Knight said: “I think it’s really important that we can park that and also realize that we haven’t become a bad side overnight and we’re still a very good ODI team,” he said.
“I think the girls have actually digested and parked the Ashes quite well, we’ve had a bit of time off to get a bit of headspace. There will be good energy around the group, I’m sure and I’m looking forward to that first Worlds.” cup match”.
Knight admits he doesn’t expect a “covid-free” World Cup with the number of coronavirus cases rising in New Zealand due to the Omicron variant.
The ICC announced on Thursday that teams could play games with just nine players if they so wished, with their teams supplemented by two female support staff who would act as substitute fielders.
Knight added: “It’s unlikely to be a World Cup without Covid, although obviously that’s the hope. I guess it’s in place in case something goes wrong and I hope it doesn’t.”
“We are here now, we have quarantined, although it is never ideal to have to be quarantined, but it has already been done. We got to a place where the restrictions that we live under are manageable.”
“For the players here, we want to compete, we want to be successful in a World Cup and that will be our main focus.”
Watch the ICC Women’s World Cup of Cricket live on Sky Sports from Friday 4th March. Coverage of the opening match of the tournament, which hosts New Zealand against the West Indies, begins at 12.30am on Sky Sports Cricket. England vs Australia is live from 12:30am on Saturday 5th March.
