Yahoo News England captain Heather Knight asks players for fearlessness and humility after losing T20 World Cup opener
England women’s cricket captain Heather Knight has urged her players to put the needs of the team first, as England try to steady their Twenty20 World Cup campaign in Australia that was rocked by an opening-round loss to South Africa.
England’s batting order has been a point of contention, with former openers Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield pushed down to numbers seven and eight.
Winfield has barely hit a ball during a month on tour, apparently playing as a specialist mid-on fielder. Seam bowler Katherine Brunt continues to be promoted as a hitter, but in 24 innings in the top six, she has only scored above the teens four times, and never made a fifty.
Wicketkeeper Amy Jones is likewise persisted with as an opener despite a string of low scores on this tour and in last year’s Ashes.
“We’re quite clear on the order we’re going to start with, and as players you have to be flexible,” said Knight on Tuesday, ahead of taking on the surprise qualifier Thailand in her side’s second World Cup match.
“T20 cricket is such a quick game and each ball can be really important. As batters it’s our job to get used to that. You have to be open minded. You have to park the ego sometimes and know that the job that you’re doing is what we think is right for the team.”
Next up will be matches against Pakistan and West Indies, with England needing to win both in a tight race to qualify for a semi-final. That simple requirement produced a simple response from Knight.
“I don’t think in this World Cup you’ve got time to be fearful. We have to go out there, get rid of any doubts that we’ve got in our mind, play with freedom in everything we do, and be brave.”
