England spinner Sophie Ecclestone is optimistic about her team’s chances of staging a comeback in the ongoing Women’s Ashes 2023. Despite England trailing 0-6 in the points table following their defeat in the one-off Test match and a narrow loss in the first T20I, Ecclestone believes that her team is not far behind the dominant Australian side. She expressed her confidence while addressing the media ahead of the second ODI against Australia.
Australians have been in exceptional form, remaining unbeaten in their last 39 completed white-ball fixtures across formats, a streak that predates their two most recent World Cup triumphs. However, Ecclestone remains undeterred and draws inspiration from the unpredictable nature of cricket.
“We’ve seen weirder things happen than that in cricket. We’re up for the challenge, we know exactly what we need to do. We’re really not far away from them,” said Ecclestone. She emphasized that England has the talent and competitiveness to challenge the Australians, who are undoubtedly a great team.
With England currently trailing in the series, they face the daunting task of winning all their remaining five limited-over matches to reclaim the Ashes urn for the first time since 2015. While Ecclestone acknowledged the difficulty of the task, she believed in the capabilities of her team and their determination to deliver a strong performance.
“It’s obviously going to be a really hard task to beat the Aussies, five out of five, but we know what we need to do, and the girls are up for it tomorrow. So we’re hoping to put on a big show in front of the big crowd,” Ecclestone added.
Ecclestone’s confidence reflects the fighting spirit within the England camp as they gear up for the crucial matches ahead. Despite the odds stacked against them, they are motivated to challenge Australia’s supremacy and aim for a remarkable turnaround in the Women’s Ashes series. The second T20I will provide England with an opportunity to showcase their resilience and determination as they strive to narrow the points gap and regain momentum in the series.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
