The Australian team is only a game away from claiming the multi-format Ashes 2023 title and winning a ruthless series against England. They seem least interested in settling and ‘closing the gap’; they rather wish to win the game emphatically.
Australia has already marked the series with 6 points. Having bagged the Test games and the first T20 game, the Australian team is now ready to bag the final T20 game on Wednesday and will want to play an emphatic game against England as mentioned by Megan Schutt.
England is in a dicey position, with no chance of losing any of the upcoming games.
Schutt in an interview mentioned, “The Test set us in a pretty good position but we still know we’ve got a lot of work to do. It was a pretty close game the other day and I think the Test was a really good ebb and flow of true Test cricket.”
“But this (multi-format series) is the true test playing out as we go across three formats … and we’ll see if they can keep pushing us throughout all three formats.”
Schutt also mentioned that the team was not concerned about perceived gaps between themselves and other teams, despite some efforts put forth by the English. Lauren Bell and wicketkeeper Amy Jones did mention the opposition’s efforts but Ashleigh Gardner’s impressive spree in the second Test at Trent Bridge, helped them maintain the required distance.
“We want to win no matter what, so whether the gap’s there or not our ambitions stay the same,” Schutt said.
“There’s going to be games where they’re going to get closer than others and that gap is no doubt closing in some games, but at the same time we’re still looking to evolve and play better cricket so that really doesn’t concern us.”
She further added, “That’s a strength of ours (and) it is something you have to mentally work towards doing,” she said.
“Learning how to win is really (part of that) … we try and be ruthless, and we try and identify those key moments and be really calm under pressure. We’ve won games in the past where we perhaps should have lost and I think that’s a key strength of ours.”
Being asked about Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal in the men’s Test game, Bell said they would like to avoid such circumstances. But blunt Schutt voiced her opinions truthfully and stated, “It’s a fair dismissal.”
“I’d be happy with any wicket that goes towards me, it’s a stumping so it’s another one for my stats so I’ll take it. I think batters need to stay in their crease.”
CommBank Ashes 2023 Tour of the UK
Australia leads the multi-format series 6-0
Second T20I: July 5 at The Oval, London, 6.35 pm (3.35 am July 6 AEST)
Third T20I: July 8 at Lord’s, London, 6.35 pm (3.35 am July 9 AEST)
First ODI: July 12 at The County Ground, Bristol, 1 pm (10 pm AEST)
Second ODI: July 16 at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, 11 am (7 pm AEST)
Third ODI: July 18 at The County Ground, Taunton, 1 pm (10 pm AEST)
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