England women receive good-luck card from ECB staff

Heather Knight. (Photo Source: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

The first Test between Pat Cummins’ Australia and Ben Stokes’ England turned out to be a thrilling affair. The World Test Champions, Australia grabbed a spectacular two-wicket win on the closing stages of Day 5. Heather Knight will be hoping to avenge the painful loss the men’s team succumbed to as they take on Alyssa Healy and Co. in the one-off Women’s Ashes Test in Nottingham from June 22.

Like the England men’s team, the women’s team was also bestowed a good-luck card. Knight was visibly thrilled after receiving the card as she read some of the messages to the media, while sporting an effulgent smile. 

One message read: “Thanks for inspiring the next generation of boys and girls to play cricket. As a dad of a 5 year old girl taking her first steps into cricket at All Stars, you are all amazing role models and heroes!”

Another one of the messages urged the team to give it their best shot against the mighty Australians. “Go and smash it, and that glass ceiling! #WeGotGame”, the message stated.

While most women’s Tests are played over four days, the one-off Test between England and Australia will be a five-day affair. England will look to break the stranglehold of the Aussies in the Ashes. The Aussies have not let go of the urn since their defeat at home in 2013-2014.

The two teams will be playing all three formats of the game and the overall winner get the prestigious Ashes title. The one-off Test that commences on June 22, will be followed by three T20Is and as many ODIs.

Australia Women XI: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Alan King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown

England Women XI: Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell