‘We really held strong and looked really calm out there’ – Alice Capsey opens up after England’s thrilling victory over Australia

Alice Capsey. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Star England all-rounder Alice Capsey believes that there is still room to improve despite the team’s dream run in the ongoing Women’s Ashes 2023. England outplayed Australia in the first ODI at the County Ground in Bristol on July 12. Earlier, the hosts clinched the three-match T20I series by 2-1 after Australia won the one-off Test by 89 runs.

Capsey believes England haven’t been at their best in the multi-format series thus far. The teenager stated that they did not do well in the T20I series or in the first ODI, but nevertheless kept working as a unit in order to script a combeack and put up a competitive show.

“I think this whole series, we haven’t been at our best. Even in the T20s, we were probably playing at 80 percent and we weren’t our best again today,” Capsey was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.

The 18-year-old went on to claim that her team primarily concentrates on staying calm in tough circumstances. However, she believes that her team will play good cricket in the remaining matches in order to clinch the Ashes trophy.

“But to get over the line, and especially in pressure moments where previously maybe we would have crumbled a little bit – we really held strong and we looked really calm out there which has been something that we’ve been focusing on. So it’s really exciting that we haven’t played our best cricket yet and it’s now six-all when it’s all to play for,” she added.

Capsey reflects on her match-winning knock during third T20I at Lord’s

Captain Heather Knight struck an unbeaten 75 to chase down the 264-run target, England’s highest successful ODI chase. Capsey’s (40) aggressive performance at No. 3 and a 77-run stand with opener Tammy Beaumont (47) were key for the hosts during the chase. Despite missing the one-off Test in Nottingham and getting dismissed for three and five in the first two T20Is, Capsey played a match-winning knock 46 off 23 at Lord’s as England won the series.

What an exciting series it’s going to be: Capsey

Capsey stated that the rationale for her going at number three in ODI cricket is that if they lose a wicket in the powerplay, she gets the chance to make an attempt. She added that Beaumont batted effectively in the powerplay which took the pressure off her. She also mentioned her knock in the third T20I, saying it was a wonderful game at Lord’s and it’s always nice to bring that form into the 50-over format.

“The idea of me going at three in ODI cricket is if we do lose a wicket in the powerplay then (I’ve) got license really to just try and get us ahead of the game really. I thought Tammy batted brilliant in the powerplay, she really took the pressure off me and I was able to just get myself in and then then go from there,” she said.

“I think in cricket, all you need is one good shot or one good knock to get you back into the rhythm of things. It was an amazing game at Lord’s and I was buzzing to contribute, because I didn’t feel like I’d done much before that for the team … so it’s always nice to back it up and bring that form into the ODIs; what an exciting series it’s going to be,” she concluded.