England’s Confidence Soars Ahead of Match with Australia

Anya Shrubsole believes England’s triumphs in last year’s white-ball leg of the Ashes have shown the players that they have what it takes to break Australia’s dominance in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

Shrubsole, 32, was England’s hero during the 2017 World Cup final at Lord’s, where her sensational 6 for 46 helped secure a dramatic nine-run victory over India, giving England their most recent global title. Since then, England, under Heather Knight’s leadership, have reached the semi-finals in four major tournaments, including two finals in 2018 and 2022. However, Australia claimed the trophy on each occasion, most recently in South Africa in 2023, marking their sixth T20 title since 2010.

Australia enters this year’s T20 World Cup as favourites, having cruised through the group stages undefeated. England, also performing strongly, remains on track to face Australia in the final, provided they can overcome West Indies in their final group match.

Shrubsole told that she sensed a renewed belief in England’s squad. She noted that Australia often has an unshakable confidence, but England's recent performances, especially in the Ashes, have given them a boost. Shrubsole felt that the Ashes series, which ended in an 8-8 draw, showed England could push Australia to the limit.

In that series, England nearly reclaimed the Ashes after needing five victories in the six white-ball matches. They narrowly missed out, winning both the T20I and ODI series 2-1. Shrubsole acknowledged that winning a bilateral series is different from succeeding in a World Cup final, but highlighted that the Ashes experience proved England can go toe-to-toe with Australia.

England's current World Cup campaign has been impressive, particularly on the slow, low pitches in Sharjah. Their four frontline spinners played a key role in wins over Bangladesh and South Africa, and Shrubsole praised the team for their flexibility, especially when they introduced Lauren Bell as a seam option against Scotland.

She highlighted the effectiveness of England’s spin quartet, particularly Linsey Smith, who has been dominant during the powerplay. This allows Sophie Ecclestone to bowl in the middle and at the death, maximising their strengths.

Captain Heather Knight, approaching her ninth year in charge, has grown into her role as a leader, according to Shrubsole. Knight has had to balance her responsibilities as a player with being a spokesperson for the growing women’s game. Shrubsole admires Knight’s ability to evolve as the sport has expanded and believes Knight has adapted well to the changes brought by coach Jon Lewis.

Another key player, Nat Sciver-Brunt, has emerged as one of the most complete batters in women’s cricket, according to Shrubsole. Sciver-Brunt’s calm demeanour and ability to think clearly in difficult situations make her a valuable asset. Her powerful hitting, especially off the back foot, and her recent Ashes performances, where she scored consecutive centuries in the ODIs, have proven her ability to perform under pressure.

Shrubsole, who retired from professional cricket last year after winning the Women's Hundred final at Lord’s, has taken on a new role as chair of MCC’s Women's Players and Fixtures sub-committee. She aims to enhance female playing membership at the club, which admitted its first female members only in 1999.

While MCC has been criticised for its slow progress in promoting women’s cricket, Shrubsole is hopeful that the club can accelerate change. She noted that significant strides have been made, with a women’s Test at Lord’s scheduled for 2025, marking a positive step toward gender equality in the sport.

Shrubsole said she’s excited to contribute to this progress, adding that there is still work to be done to ensure that women’s international matches at Lord’s become a regular occurrence, reflecting the growth of women’s cricket.