‘Soul-searching’ for England captain after whitewash

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‘Soul-searching’ for England captain after whitewash

Demolished by a ruthless Australia, England’s Heather Knight says she will consider her future as captain.

Knight admits there will be “soul-searching” within the England camp after losing all seven games on their tour of Australia to become the first team in women’s Ashes history to be whitewashed.

Only three weeks ago, former England international Alex Hartley said she believed it would be the most evenly matched Ashes in 15 years.

But Australia only extended their dominance over the series, as England capitulated in stunning fashion to lose the historic day-night Test at the MCG by a whopping innings and 122 runs.

“Things are pretty raw and it’s all happened pretty quickly,” Knight said when asked about her future.

“I think the coming weeks is a time for everyone to reflect on what we could have done better, how we’re going to improve as a side.

“That’s (decision on the captaincy) not an emotional decision that’s going to be made now, it’s in the coming weeks.

“We unfortunately haven’t played our best cricket here, and we’ve got a lot of soul searching and a lot of things to try and get better at when we do play against them next.”

England coach Jon Lewis wants to continue in his position, vowing to review what went so drastically wrong after drawing the last Ashes series in 2023.

“The *********** team probably won the big moments, and that’s something we need to try and do better,” Knight said.

“When we’re on top, try and really press home that advantage.

“I’m certainly frustrated with with how the team has gone.

“We haven’t showed our best cricket.

“We’re all obviously very frustrated with that and pretty gutted.”

Former men’s captain Michael Vaughan was among the English pundits bitterly disappointed by the humiliating tour, while appreciative of the home team’s excellence.

“Big questions to be answered about the England women’s team .. mainly from those who have been involved at the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) for many years,” Vaughan wrote on his X account.

“But let’s not lose sight of how good the Aussie women team are .. exceptional team of skilled/disciplined & ruthless cricketers.”

Amid all the English gloom, their only consolation was their star spinner Sophie Ecclestone becoming the first visiting female bowler to get her name up on the MCG honours board.

She did, however, concede 143 runs, the second-biggest tally for any bowler in a women’s Test taking a five-wicket haul.

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