Shrubsole turns the heat up on Aussies
‘WE’RE HAPPY TO BE IN IT STILL’
ANYA SHRUBSOLE insists all the pressure is onAustralia and all the momentum with England for tomorrow’s Women’sWorld Cup final.
The two will lock horns in Christchurch with the Aussies aiming to deny the old enemy a second straight trophy.
And seamer Shrubsole, 30, who helped England lift the title against India in 2017, right, believes Heather Knight’s side have plenty in their favour.
“I don’t think there’s much pressure on us,” she said. “The way the tournament has gone we thought we were out after three games.
“To still be in it with a chance is really exciting and it might help us that we’ve had five games of must-win cricket, basically five semifinals, to get to this point.”
While Australia romped through the winter in imperious fashion, including not giving an inch to England in an unbeaten Ashes series, Knight’s team have slowly warmed to the task.
Losing their first three group-stage games put their backs against the wall. But they have responded with increasingly convincing wins including, as Shrubsole put it, getting everything in line during a 137-run semi-final win over South Africa.
She added: “The trophy doesn’t get handed out after three games – thank God.We are playing some good cricket now.
“This whole winter we’ve talked about putting a whole game together, bat and ball, and we pretty much did that against South Africa. We can take so much confidence from how that game unfolded and so many different players have contributed.”
Sophie Ecclestone with 6-36, Danni Wyatt with 129 and Sophia Dunkley with a middle-order 60 were the standouts in the semi-final.
But Shrubsole, who was player of the match in the last World Cup final after taking 6-46 against India, insisted others will join the party.
She said: “Sophie and Danni in the semi, and Dunks too, but there were others before them. It’s a good sign when different people are putting their hands up and in a final it’s there for anyone to grab.” England could be boosted by the absence of Australia’s star bowling allrounder Ellyse Perry, who is battling to overcome the back spasm that ruled her out of the last group game and the semi-final.
But Shrubsole said England are unconcerned who lines up against them as they are just determined to enjoy the day.
“It’s so special to play in a final,” she added. “2017 was special and not just because of how it went.
“You want to win, of course, but you can’t control that and the fact you’re involved in such a special event is something you need to embrace.
“I don’t know if I’ll play in another World Cup final, so I don’t want the day to pass me by. I want to keep smiling and enjoy it all.”
The final will be on free-toair TV after rights holders Sky announced the match will be shown on Sky Showcase, Pick and on YouTube.