Eng vs Pak, 1st ODI – Heather Knight challenges England batsmen to adapt aggressiveness to 50-over format

Knight’s 49 off 44 balls at Edgbaston last week helped save his side from an embarrassing 11 for 4 in the first T20I, but he said he took a lot of confidence from the different ways England posted competitive figures in each match. A series of cameos gave Northampton a 65-run victory before Danni Wyatt’s 48-ball 87 made a series-best 176 at Headingley.

“It was a very different three innings, wasn’t it?” Knight said on the eve of the ODIs. “The fact that we posted a very good total each time was something very exciting. Knowing the different ways to score points is very important. That is a good sign, and I think it is our real strength, that depth we have in our life. hitting.”

In particular, he praised the way the team came to terms with the slow pace of Pakistan’s bowlers, whose accuracy combined with other slow pitches made it difficult for England’s batsmen to line up. With the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh coming up, Knight said it was all important experience for the team to be able to bank on.

“The response from the top players in the first game was really good, they are working more on how to be aggressive,” he said. “I think it’s a good learning for us in terms of how we’re going to deal with those bowlers with maybe slower wickets, because you have to look at how you’re going to do it, and that’s going to be a little bit different. for every player.

“As a team, we want to stay positive,” he added. “Our aim as batsmen is to be aggressive when we can, but in ODI cricket, you have a lot more time to learn the conditions and deal with the intensity and flow of the game. Obviously there’s a lot of room to be aggressive, and that’s really important, but you have to do it over a long period of time and you have to be careful in terms of the times you choose to be and the aggressiveness and the moments you can have to soak up the pressure a little bit I’m really excited to see how we go.”

“I feel that Maia has earned this place in the T20 team and deserves a bit of a run after the way he did in New Zealand,” said Knight. “But as far as ODIs go, Tammy is one of the best openers we’ve ever had, so we’re very happy to have him back, and I know he’s still determined to keep improving and keep getting better, which is really good. we signed a player of his caliber.”

With Sophia Dunkley currently out, but insisting she is back on form for the South East Stars, Knight admitted there was “huge competition” at the top of England’s batting line-up, which “will only last.” to force those people to keep getting better.”

Capsey has endured a treacherous form of late, with just one score over 25 since March – and that innings, 31 in the second T20I, was a torturous affair containing five boundaries in one over and little else in his 33 overall . – an innings of football. Still, he earned the Player of the Match award after picking up two crucial wickets with his offspin, and Knight said his ambitions to become a true player could increase his value to the team.

“It shows the difference in T20 cricket played by young players, compared to one-day cricket now,” said Knight. “Alice is still working out how far he wants to go. He’s had success controlling the powerplay and is playing that role well in franchise leagues around the world, but it’s about expanding his game, and learning to adapt to different situations. He’s only 19, so that will come with time and volume.” of cricket being played.

“Alice wants to be a real player. He works hard for his offspring, so that gives him another option – not just in the top six batsmen, he can play as an allrounder in the sevens and look in place there. He can play consistently in that one-day team.”

Another problem for Knight would be the balance of his spin attack. All three of Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn are now fixtures in the T20I side, and each is currently in the top five of the ICC rankings. But due to the potential need to play another seamer, while maintaining England’s batting depth, one of the three may have to sit out.

“Obviously there’s a little bit of a different balance to Nat not swinging,” Knight said. “Our three spinners have been our biggest strength, and it would be really difficult to include them in the one-day team. It’s something we haven’t really done yet, but it’s difficult to leave one of them out.

“They all add different things: Sarah’s consistency, Charlie’s got the best strike rate of all time in one-day cricket, and Soph’s the best in the world. We’re looking at how we squeeze them, but also. He’s got the right balance in terms of hitting enough.”

While England’s focus is on the T20 World Cup in October, Knight was aware that an ODI version would also be available in 2025. However, that is a challenge for another day.

“The international program always has a big competition not too far away,” he said. “For me, it’s about developing as a team, whether it’s in the T20 format or the one-day format, and each player has to be very clear about what they really need to be better at.

“I want us to focus on what we’re doing now. What we’re facing is Pakistan. We’re trying to do everything we can when we’re facing them, and finally win the series and win it hard.”