Women's Ashes 2025: Australia not 'weakened' by World Cup failure, says England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge
2025-01-06
Category: sports

Women's Ashes 2025Dates: 11 January-2 FebruaryCoverage: Ball-by-ball radio commentary on BBC Sounds, with live text updates and video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app. 
Australia will not be weakened in the Women's Ashes by their failure to defend their 20-over World Cup title, says England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge. Alyssa Healy's side were knocked out in the semi-finals by South Africa in October, having gone into the tournament as the holders of both white-ball World Cups, the Women's Ashes and the Commonwealth Games. The multi-format Women's Ashes starts on Saturday, 11 January (23:30 GMT) with the first of three one-day internationals, before three T20s and a four-day Test follow.England last won the series in 2014, with Australia regaining them in 2015 and retaining them since.Australia retained them in 2023 with an 8-8 draw, despite hosts England winning both white-ball series. Asked if Australia will be weakened by failing to defend their T20 crown, Wyatt-Hodge said: "No, not at all. They have a quality squad."Anyone in their squad that comes in performs. Anyone in their line-up is capable of match-winning performances. "It's going to be a massive challenge for us, but one that we really can't wait for. "We play with and against the Aussies so much and we know what everyone does, and they know us inside out, so it's going to be a very exciting series."England fast bowler Kate Cross agreed, telling the No Balls podcast: "We've spoken so much about us exiting the World Cup but they exited the World Cup as well and sometimes that can rejuvenate a team."I know how that feels from our side of the dressing room but equally it could be the same for them."Australia won one-day series against India and T20 World Cup champions New Zealand in December.Captain Healy has recovered from injury to be part of the Ashes squad for the white-ball series, with a Test squad yet to be announced, though Sophie Molineux misses out after having knee surgery.
'Whoever is the calmest will come out best'
England suffered their own disappointment in the T20 World Cup, being knocked out in the group stages with a six-wicket thrashing by West Indies.They were heavily criticised for their performance in that game, with England looking lost in the field for large parts of the chase while captain Heather Knight was off the field with a calf injury.Numerous catches were dropped and shoulders started to slump, while there was little communication and encouragement between the players. Head coach Jon Lewis said his side "drifted off" and was critical of their demeanour. "It's [The Ashes] going to be whoever's the calmest will come out the best," said Wyatt-Hodge. "We spoke about that. It's a given. We always speak about wanting to be calm and relaxed, but everyone's different. "Someone might need to be the opposite, so it's going to be a matter of what works for you."There's a lot of hype around the Ashes and the first game there'll be a few nerves around, but I think it's just going to be a matter of who stays the calmest for sure."We just really want to focus on ourselves and enjoy the challenge that's ahead of us."