Point to prove for Aussies
ANY demons from the World Cup have been banished by Australia and it is ready to take the Ashes head on.
Wet weather in Brisbane has prevented Australia and England completing a full practice match, but the Aussies have declared they feel ready for Sunday’s opening one- dayer and their World Cup exit is not playing on their minds.
Coach Matthew Mott said the opening round of the national cricket league and their work since coming into camp last week has showed his team’s steely focus.
“You never know until you get out there, but there’s a real sense of a well-prepared team that is ready to bare its teeth a little bit, show what we can do,” Mott said.
“Everyone has addressed that we have potentially not played at our full capabilities for some time.”
Pace bowler Megan Schutt said any hangovers from the World Cup were long gone and they were ready to bring England down a notch.
“We’ve learnt from the mis- takes that were made over there and dealt with the personal issues that came with that,” Schutt said.
“We’ve really worked hard at getting over that speed bump.
“England won the round game over there, so they’re one up on us, so we’re keen to take that away from them.”
She said she and the team were desperate to knock England this Ashes.
“Really bad, like really bad. Especially on home soil,” Schutt said when asked how much she wanted to win.
“It’s always a good contest so there’ll be nothing better than beating them at home.
“We’re playing some really aggressive cricket and it seems everyone knows their role.” off