‘Ashes has been finest ever in ladies’s cricket historical past’

This summer time’s Ashes has been the “finest sequence ever in ladies’s cricket historical past”, says England captain Heather Knight.

England haven’t gained the Ashes for a decade, however either side have performed their half in a fascinating sequence that noticed Australia surge forward with a six-point lead within the multi-format contest, earlier than England’s three consecutive white-ball wins drew them degree.

“It has been a ridiculous sequence, hasn’t it?” mentioned Knight on BBC Check Match Particular.

On Sunday, England had been set the problem of breaking the document for his or her highest ODI run chase, which they recorded at Bristol 4 days earlier, as Australia set an imposing 282-7.

Due to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 111, England got here inside simply three runs earlier than succumbing to the world champions as soon as extra.

Sciver-Brunt might not have been capable of hit the six required to win the sport from the final ball, however the tense end added much more drama to an enthralling sequence that has been an epic rollercoaster from day one.

England have already made historical past by successful the T20 leg of the multi-format sequence, inflicting a primary sequence defeat on Australia since 2017 – and nonetheless have the chance for a white-ball double, displaying the importance of the 4 factors on supply within the Check match, which Australia gained by 89 runs final month.

“We’re nonetheless going to Taunton [for Tuesday’s final ODI] with the intention of an ODI sequence win,” Knight, 32, mentioned.

“We’re clearly annoyed we haven’t ben capable of maintain this momentum and obtain the nice escape, however I’m happy with the combat and the character we’ve proven.”

Regardless of the end result – it’s Knight’s fourth unsuccessful try and regain the Ashes as captain – there’s nonetheless loads of hope from England’s perspective, from the sell-out crowds to their capacity to go toe-to-toe with Australia after years of despair.

“It’s all about studying, and lot of younger gamers will be taught a variety of issues from right this moment which is barely going to be a optimistic factor sooner or later,” Knight added.

“The crowds have been superior, the way in which they’ve acquired on board with us has actually given us that added impetus once we’ve actually wanted it.”

‘We’ve not performed our greatest cricket but’

Australia are the primary to confess when their requirements dip – it’s a part of what has made them so successful over the previous decade.

And so they have needed to admit it incessantly over the previous 4 weeks, as they appeared to be squandering a six-point lead which at one level appeared insurmountable.

With the momentum heading England’s means after levelling the sequence at Bristol, it’s no surprise Alyssa Healy, standing in as captain for the absent Meg Lanning, has discovered the expertise “hectic”.

“I’m completely satisfied at hand the captaincy again to Meg at any alternative!” Healy joked after their victory.

“However we’re clearly actually happy to retain the Ashes, however there’s nonetheless one recreation to go and we might be able to put our greatest foot ahead once more.”

Regardless of being removed from their finest, Australia nonetheless triumphed within the Check match, edged this thriller by three runs and even England’s victories got here from very slender margins.

And Healy says Australia are taking the positives from the very fact they’ve nonetheless been capable of retain the trophy regardless of below-par performances.

“We nonetheless haven’t performed our greatest cricket, which is a little bit bit scary,” she mentioned.

“It’s hectic, however we’ve been in related positions earlier than and acquired over the road, so we simply trusted that.”