T20 World Cup final: England secure victory in biggest game in a decade

Edwards popped the question – earlier this year Challenged the young people of England to push places – But he didn’t panic.

12 of this year’s team played in 2024. These same cricketers are playing better now.

But for all England’s commitment, Australia arrive on Sunday as favourites.

The 16-0 Ashes victory was only 18 months ago and while England have won every World Cup held in this country, more relevant is Australia’s dominance in the big matches.

In the year England have never beaten Australia in their five World Cup play-offs since the World T20 semi-final in 2009, when pacer Tilly Courtin-Coleman was a year old.

Edwards was the captain that day, as it was England’s last Ashes win in 2014.

And the Australians, who have played 10 World Cup finals since 2000 and lost just one, will not make it to their seventh T20 World Cup on the weight of history alone.

Great Ellyse Perry, who looked to be winning the race to qualify, said Edwards “wasn’t going to let” England beat her before taking the field.

“We didn’t really talk much about the ash,” said captain Sophie Molyneux.

“Maybe we’ve seen a little bit of the Ashes used, but they were playing different conditions – and a different style of cricket.”

Sciver-Brunt was similarly opposed, although her speech indicated a sense of British progress.

“The staff we have now is very different — maybe not in who they are, but in where we are as a side and what we’ve done,” Sciver-Brunt said.

“The feeling around the team is very different from that Ashes trip. I’m sure a lot of people have tried to forget how we felt.

But we know we have to move forward and learn from that journey; “There’s a lot of hard work to be done and we know where we are now.”

In the year It means that talk of ash can wait until the defeat ends on these shores in 2027.

Sunday, when Lord’s is sold again, will be a special event in itself.

In the year That Sunday in 2017 was to showcase the growth of the women’s game to the world, but we’ve moved on from that now.

FIFA’s round of 16 on Saturday morning means the glamorous competition will get the attention it deserves rather than competing with football.

It could start the Edwards era for England and give them some time at the home of cricket that they deserve more than anyone else.

Perhaps just as importantly, after the Ashes and the aftermath, win or lose, England are a team that believes again.