“They are going to be actually powerful for us to beat out right here in one-day cricket however we’re actually assured with the place we’re at,” Knight instructed reporters at North Sydney Oval on the eve of the primary ODI on the identical venue. “We have had some good wins during the last 12 months and that 2023 sequence will give us quite a lot of confidence.
“We all know that the Aussies have been most likely a bit scarred by that and they are going to come out actually arduous, and we have got to be ready for that and have our plans able to face that, and to attempt to counteract that ourselves.”
Knight’s language echoed that of England spinner Charlie Dean, who 24 hours earlier stated her group “haven’t got as many scars” from earlier Ashes defeats. Final 12 months’s draw marked a major turnaround for England from back-to-back wins for Australia, each by 12 factors to 4.
“I believe you need to throw the primary punch,” Healy stated. “You need to get on the market and take the primary two factors, that is the way it goes, after which you may hopefully settle in from there. However I do not really feel like we have performed each other fairly often of late, exterior of World Cup warm-up video games and whatnot.
“So the chance to get on the market and kind of really feel one another out is an attention-grabbing idea. However on the identical time, I believe we all know what we’ll convey within the one-day format, and, hopefully, we simply give attention to ourselves tomorrow and go on the market and try this.”
Getting off to a quick begin will not be Australia’s sole goal, with Healy additionally reflecting that that they had put a lot emphasis on profitable the Take a look at which kicked off the 2023 sequence that they ended up being overtaken by England.
“It was simply the best way that it petered out on the finish,” Healy stated. “We put quite a lot of work into that Take a look at match. We hadn’t performed with the Dukes ball earlier than, and there was quite a lot of give attention to that and we bought that job achieved. After which we assumed that on the white-ball sport, you already know, we would be okay.
“However England threw a couple of issues at us that we hadn’t seen earlier than, and doubtless took the sport on just a little bit extra and put us on the again foot, which we’re effectively ready for now, from quite a lot of groups proper around the globe. So we benefited from that have. However I believe leaving England the ladies have been like, ‘we do not need that to occur once more’. A draw just isn’t an important feeling for each side, and doubtless for them as effectively for us to maintain the trophy in that regard. So we’ll hopefully get the job achieved outright this time.”
Knight felt related motivation to place this 12 months’s consequence past doubt after 2023.
“I’ve constructive reminiscences of it but in addition tainted with remorse and frustration that we weren’t capable of do one thing actually particular and win it outright,” Knight stated. “I do not suppose we have got a psychological edge. They’re a particularly good facet that we’ll need to be on the prime of our sport to attempt to beat. They’re going to definitely go in as favourites and our job will probably be, because it was in 2023, to go in and attempt to disrupt, and attempt to do issues just a little bit otherwise, to attempt to break that success and run that they’ve had.”
“I will not lie, I believe final one, it was type of final minute,” Healy stated. “There was quite a lot of uncertainty round what was going to unfold, however in the back of my thoughts, I used to be nonetheless ready to guide if want be. On this occasion, I really feel a bit extra snug within the position and I’ve most likely managed to place my very own stamp on the group just a little bit extra so in that sense, it feels a bit extra snug. Being at house as effectively. However in saying that I do know that, specifically, we’ll be put underneath the pump so much this this sequence, and, simply hopefully, again myself to get that job achieved.”
Valkerie Baynes is a common editor, girls’s cricket, at ESPNcricinfo
