Sky Sports activities Cricket’s Lauren Winfield-Hill believes that Heather Knight has confirmed her value for England after shedding the captaincy following a disastrous winter.
Following a 16-0 whitewash within the Ashes, Knight stepped down from her position as captain as Nat Sciver-Brunt took cost, with head coach Jon Lewis making method for Charlotte Edwards to take over.
The brand new period began with the opening T20I of their collection towards West Indies as England walked away with a snug eight-wicket win.
Regardless of the refreshed outfit, it was a former skipper Knight (43no) that helped paved the way as England mounted their chase of 147, partnering with Sophia Dunkley (81no) as the important thing duo that shared an unbroken 91-run partnership.
In the meantime, Sciver-Brunt fell to a two-ball duck.
For Winfield-Hill, it’s a second that can have assuaged Knight’s personal doubts about her position within the facet, reaffirming that she remains to be the most effective gamers England has to supply.
“I think it will really affirm her place in this side,” Winfield-Hill stated.
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Hayley Matthews accomplished a surprising century off the ultimate ball of West Indies’ innings towards England
“You are no longer captain but goodness me you are still one of the best players in the country.
“There’s no one extra you need striding to the crease in that state of affairs, a few wickets down, than Heather Knight to see the sport residence.
“Particularly in a chase, she is so good in a chase. She knows the tempo, she knows her strengths, when to pull the trigger.
“That may simply be some good reaffirming for her that she has some actual worth for this facet.
“Because, no doubt, she will have questioned that when losing her captaincy.”
Dunkley: Knight has been excellent with the group
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England’s Lauren Bell pulled off an excellent catch to dismiss Mandy Mangru
Dunkley was additionally filled with reward for her former skipper and batting associate, insisting that she has been “outstanding” with the group all through the transition from her management into the brand new period.
Certainly, she believes “nothing has changed” on the subject of the management that Knight brings for the staff.
“Heather has been outstanding around the group,” Dunkley stated.
“She’s a natural leader, everyone respects her, nothing changed in that respect.
“She batted very well, had an ideal partnership, and nice to see her on the market doing what she does finest.”
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Newly-appointed England’s girls’s cricket head coach Charlotte Edwards says she’s aiming to ‘discover the blueprint’ to assist the staff win main occasions
Whereas Dunkley believes not an excessive amount of has modified for Knight, she admits there’s a completely different feeling underneath new coach Edwards who has instructed her to maintain issues “simple” and “calm”.
“Edwards is calm and clear in what she wants to do, we had a good week going into this game and it is great to start with a win,” Dunkley added.
“I really wanted to come out and contribute to the team and have an impact on the game and I am pleased to have done so tonight.
“She’s been clear with me about what she needs me to do, play to my strengths.
“My strength is to hit nice and straight and take the game on when I want to and be clear in my decision-making, nothing too out there, keep it simple and that’s what I tried to do tonight.”
England Ladies’s summer time fixtures
All instances UK and Eire; all video games reside on Sky Sports activities
T20 worldwide collection vs West Indies (Could)
One-day worldwide collection vs West Indies (Could-June)
- First ODI: Friday Could 30 (1pm) – Derby
- Second ODI: Wednesday June 4 (1pm) – Leicester
- Third ODI: Saturday June 7 (11am) – Taunton
T20 worldwide collection vs India (June-July)
- First T20I: Saturday June 28 (2.30pm) – Trent Bridge
- Second T20I: Tuesday July 1 (6.30pm) – Bristol
- Third T20I: Friday July 4 (6.35pm) – The Kia Oval
- Fourth T20I: Wednesday July 9 (6.30pm) – Emirates Outdated Trafford
- Fifth T20I: Saturday July 12 (6.35pm) – Edgbaston
One-day worldwide collection vs India (July)
- First ODI: Wednesday July 16 (1pm) – Southampton
- Second ODI: Saturday July 19 (11am) – Lord’s
- Third ODI: Tuesday July 22 (1pm) – Chester-le-Road
Watch England’s second T20I worldwide towards West Indies reside on Sky Sports activities Cricket and Sky Sports activities Foremost Occasion from 6pm on Friday (6.35pm first ball). Stream cricket with NOW
