Sydney [Australia], January 6 (ANI): Relinquishing the T20 World Cup title has performed little to dent Australia’s dominance in world cricket, in line with England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who has confronted them greater than most. As she prepares for her eighth Ladies’s Ashes sequence, Wyatt-Hodge believes Australia’s unmatched batting depth, ruthless mindset, and familiarity with house circumstances will make them formidable contenders within the upcoming 2025 Ashes, which begins this weekend in Sydney.
Regardless of their stunning failure to achieve the T20 World Cup last final year–marking the primary time since 2009–Australia have proven no indicators of decline. They’ve received all 5 of their accomplished ODIs in the course of the house summer time, sweeping India 3-0 and New Zealand 2-0. This era additionally witnessed the emergence of 21-year-old opening batter Georgia Voll, who has been sensational, averaging 86.50 at a strike charge of 108.80. Voll introduced herself in model with a century in simply her second worldwide sport towards India in December.
Whereas Voll’s position within the Ashes is but to be decided because of the return of captain Alyssa Healy, who resumed batting duties on the rain-hit tour of New Zealand with Beth Mooney behind the stumps, she stays a key determine within the squad. Voll was included within the white-ball squads after changing injured allrounder Sophie Molineux, additional showcasing Australia’s unimaginable depth. Alongside Voll, Australia additionally boast rising stars like 21-year-old opener Phoebe Litchfield and 23-year-old allrounder Annabel Sutherland.
Wyatt-Hodge is unconvinced by any suggestion that Australia’s World Cup setback has weakened their prowess.
“No, by no means, they are a high quality squad,” Wyatt-Hodge mentioned, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Anybody of their squad that is available in performs. Have a look at Georgia Voll, she’s had an impressive begin to her ODI profession. Anybody of their line-up is able to match-winning performances. So it will be an enormous problem for us, however one which we actually cannot look forward to, and particularly enjoying them of their circumstances as nicely provides one other problem,” she added.
England, nonetheless, confirmed they might problem Australia’s dominance in the course of the 2023 house Ashes sequence, successful each white-ball legs after dropping the Check. The sequence ended with each groups locked at eight factors every, permitting Australia to retain the trophy. Wyatt-Hodge, a standout performer in that sequence, was the second-highest run-scorer within the T20Is, trailing Mooney by simply six runs.
“We will take confidence from what occurred,” Wyatt-Hodge mentioned.
“However we’re beginning a brand new Ashes, clearly it is of their circumstances as nicely. Everyone knows how good the Aussies are, they’re an actual high quality crew, stuffed with world-class gamers, however we’re actually trying ahead to the large problem forward,” she mentioned, in line with ESPNcricinfo.
“They bat so deep, do not they, the Aussies? Anybody that is available in is able to getting some invaluable runs for his or her crew. They’re simply so ruthless, they simply struggle and struggle until the top, and they’re a really laborious crew to beat,” she added.
England, too, have bounced again from their very own World Cup disappointment. After a lacklustre efficiency towards the West Indies within the group stage, they completed 2024 strongly with a tour of South Africa, the place they swept the T20Is 3-0, received the Check comprehensively, and misplaced only one ODI. Wyatt emerged because the main run-scorer within the T20Is and was second on England’s total batting charts in the course of the tour.
The 2025 Ashes will characteristic seven matches unfold throughout 22 days, beginning with three ODIs from January 12, adopted by three T20Is, and concluding with a four-day pink-ball Check on the MCG, scheduled to finish on February 2.
England head coach Jon Lewis has criticized the packed schedule, citing inadequate preparation time, particularly for the Check match. England’s solely warm-up sport is a 50-over match towards a Governor Basic’s XI on January 9, the place Healy is predicted to check her restoration as a wicketkeeper.
“We will not moan about it, simply received to embrace it and make it possible for we’re prioritising our relaxation and as soon as we’re on it, we’re on it,” Wyatt-Hodge famous, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“We at all times discuss desirous to be calm and relaxed, however everybody’s completely different. Somebody would possibly must be the other, so it will be a matter of what works for you on the finish of the day,” she mentioned”However there’s lots of hype across the Ashes and the primary sport. There will be a number of nerves round, however I feel it is simply going to be a matter of who stays calmest for certain after which get your head down. I undoubtedly play quite a bit higher once I’m feeling chilled and calm and relaxed. Clearly I get nervous and there is a few nerves round, however yeah, undoubtedly whoever stays the calmest will profit extra,” she famous. (ANI)
