Series draw boosts self-belief
Drawing a one-day series against Australia in Australia is something we can all be proud of, but we now know that we have the ability to go that one step further.
We started well, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and forcing Australia to put in a very strong performance to beat us in the second.
Then, after rain washed out the third game, going 2-1 up after put us in a position we’ve not been used to in the past – a position from which we could nail a series against the World Cup holders.
Unfortunately we didn’t put the performance in when it mattered to clinch the series but there is now a real sense of excitement amongst the squad about what we’re capable of, and I think we have proved a point ahead of next year's World Cup.
We played some very good cricket in the series, but to be the best team in the world, we have to start stringing good performances together to become a really consistent unit.
Despite that, our results have done our self-belief a great deal of good, and individually and collectively we now know we can compete with - and beat - the best in the world.
Our has been brilliant since taking over from Mark Dobson, and his experience of working with many of us from a very young age, coupled with his time spent with the Kenyan men’s side, has brought a great deal to our side.
Laney joined us on his 40th birthday, and who better to spend it with than 17 women!
Now we're looking forward to the women’s Ashes Test later in the week, and although it is a very different form of cricket, we are confident after our success in the one-day series.
We know it will be a very hard-fought game, with Australia desperate to win the trophy back, but many of the current squad were part of , and are fully aware of how hard we had to work to achieve what we did.
The pressure will be on as this is the only Test, and we know the Aussies will come at us hard. We certainly have the ability to combat this, and having not won the Ashes for 42 years previous to our 2005 win, we will not be letting them go without a fight.
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More Holly Colvin pictures please. Better than any old ashes any day :) x x
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well done so far to the england women's team.
and yes mark lane is a lucky guy. if i can't be the coach can i be the coach driver then?!
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Will you marry me Rosalie?
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Go the womens cricket team
It's a shame your team doesn't get as much recognition as it deserves and only has the 1 test to compete for the Ashes in but Good luck to you all.
Also a really big shame the game is being played in the middle of nowehere as i would have loved to have come along and support you all but it really is a long way.... from civilisation!!!
Good luck again and more pics and updates on here
G
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Go Team Go .... Rosalie is class
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Brilliant performance so far. I was worried about a 5-0 or a 4-1 so a 2-2 is very very impressive, even more so given off the field distractions.
Hardly any coverage over here on TV which is a massive downer.
And so to the Ashes - just grind them into the sun scorched earth ! Good luck, it'll be very tough.
[Oh, and by the way, in your next blog, any chance of expanding on why two members of the tour decided to return to the UK in time for ...... St Vals Day ?!?!?]
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What on earth makes anyone think that Bowral is 'in the middle of nowhere'??? it is on the main highway between Melbourne and Sydney, a gorgeous place in the Southern Highlands, on one of the most treasured and loveliest grounds, in the middle of three very large regional towns.. It's about an hour from Sydney on the freeway, 40 minutes from Canberra.. good grief.. some folks ideas are bizarre.
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Whatever the reasons for Jane Smit retiring in the middle of a tour (and they can remain private if that's what Jane wants) the rather blunt and brief statement issued by the ECB (about 3 days after the event!) does the ECB little credit and serves to add to the air of suspicion surrounding this matter.
Surely Jane deserves a much more dignified and lengthy recognition of her tremendous contribution to England cricket - or am I missing something here ?
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Womens Cricket does not get recognition, because from what I have seen of quite a few of Englands Womens Cricket, the spirit and effort can not be questioned, but like Englands Men on a bad day the skills generally are in my opinion very poor and at times like watching a junior school play cricket.
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I quite agree with you Golden Duck and there is a tribute to Jane on Cricinfo.
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"We will not be letting them go without a fight" - you can say that again Rosey !
Stunning Ashes win. To topple the Aussies in Oz is an amazing achievement and one that everyone (whether still on the tour or back in the UK) should be proud of.
Now nip over the Tasman Sea and gives the blokes a few tips !
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Congratulations England. What a great victory in Australia! Well played. I hate to compare your team's performanca with that of the England men but I can't help but think that you're showing the men how to win in Australia. Again well played and all the best in the future.
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