Facing a potential 16-0 Ashes whitewash, England captain Heather Knight is determined to rally her team and prove their worth against Australia in the final Test at the MCG.
England captain Heather Knight believes the desire to prove their worth could be the key to a resurgence against a dominant Australia in the final Women's Ashes Test at the MCG . Facing the possibility of a 16-0 whitewash after losing both white-ball series 3-0, Knight acknowledged the disappointing performance of her team. 'Everyone's really disappointed with how we've performed so far,' she said on Wednesday. 'We feel like we haven't played our best cricket at all as a side.
As a leader, you kind of feel responsible a little bit that things haven't gone their best.' Knight, known for performing well when challenged, stated, 'I'm probably someone that is at my best when I've got a bit of a point to prove and I certainly do have that this week.'The gulf in class between the two teams appears significant, with England struggling to regain the Ashes since their last victory in 2014. Adding to England's woes, seamer Kate Cross, who sustained a back injury in December, will not be available for the one-off Test. The upcoming Test match brings renewed pressure on Knight and coach Jon Lewis. England's trophy drought in major tournaments since the 2017 50-over World Cup raises questions about their future. Lewis' 'Jonball' approach, inspired by Bazball, has generated exciting cricket but lacks silverware. Knight, captain since 2016, may consider stepping down to focus on batting. However, with no clear successor and the prospect of hosting the T20 World Cup in 2026, she might choose to continue. While players, like Dunkley, express unwavering support for Knight, the team needs a change to break free from their slump in important matches. Whether it's a change in captaincy, coaching, or playing personnel, England needs to find a way to become stronger and compete with the formidable Australian side.
Women's Ashes Heather Knight Australia England Cricket MCG Jon Lewis
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