“We are clear about how we want to do things and how we want to play,” said England skipper Heather Knight about the clarity in mindset within the squad ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
The Heather Knight-led side was up against New Zealand led by skipper Sophie Devine for a white-ball series at home. England whitewashed New Zealand in both white-ball formats, a three-match ODI series followed by a five-match T20I series. England then toured Ireland for a three-match ODI series followed by a two-match T20I series under the leadership of the stand-in skipper Kate Cross.
England clinched the ODI series (2-1) and shared the two-match T20I series. Most of the members of the World Cup squad were not a part of that series as they were rested ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. We are just a few days away before the mega event that gets underway on 3rd October 2024 and concludes on 20th October 2024.
“We are clear about how we want to do things and how we want to play. We have prepared the best we can and feel in a great spot,” said England skipper Heather Knight about having that clarity in mindset, heading into the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
England would be keen to add another title to their cabinet after being crowned as the inaugural champions of the tournament, way back in the year 2009. In the previous 8th edition of the tournament, they ended up on the losing side in the 2nd semi-final on 24th February 2023 at Newlands, Cape Town against hosts South Africa led by the now former skipper Sune Luus by 6 runs.
The Heather Knight-led side will play a couple of warm-up matches against Australia led by skipper Alyssa Healy on 29th September 2024 and against New Zealand led by skipper Sophie Devine on 1st October 2024 from 7:30 PM IST.
“It’s important not to change how we play because it’s the World Cup with added pressure and added external expectations to be successful. It’s about doing the best we can and approaching it with a one-game-at-a-time mentality,” skipper Heather Knight said about sticking to their natural game and focusing on one game at a time.
England will kickstart their World Cup campaign against Bangladesh led by skipper Nigar Sultana Joty on 5th October 2024 in the 6th match of the tournament at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium from 7:30 PM IST.
(Quotes sourced from ICC Press Release)