England batter Sophia Dunkley revealed her admiration for the Lionesses, the women's football team, as she aims to entertain and inspire the crowds during the upcoming Women's Ashes, set to begin on June 22 with a one-off Test in Nottingham.
Over the past year, women's sport in England has experienced significant success, with the football team triumphing in the UEFA European Women's Championship and the rugby union team securing the Six Nations Grand Slam.
Dunkley expressed the team's collective inspiration, stating, "We are so inspired by what the Lionesses did last summer, and it has really united us in our mission to inspire and entertain the next generation. We have a tremendous opportunity this summer to achieve something special," in an interview with Sky Sports.
The Women's Ashes Test has already garnered substantial attention, with over 11,000 tickets sold. The match between England and Australia at Trent Bridge is set to witness a record-breaking crowd. This Test match will be England Women's first five-day game in the longer format on home soil and their return to Trent Bridge after a hiatus since 2000.
Reflecting on her experiences in front of large crowds, Dunkley highlighted the significance of playing in The Hundred tournament and representing England, stating, "I think The Hundred is one of the first times I have played in front of a massive crowd in England, and having the pressure of just having played for England as well."
She added, "Having that experience of playing in big stadiums is crucial, and I feel much more prepared after having those opportunities. This is my first home Ashes, so having the support of the home crowd will hopefully be a great boost."
Captain Heather Knight acknowledged that playing the Test match would be a learning experience for many of the young players in the team, who have limited exposure to the format. Throughout her 13-year international career, Knight has played only ten Test matches.
"It has been nice to focus solely on red-ball cricket. It's a format we haven't played much, so that has been really enjoyable. When we get the opportunity to play Test cricket, we approach it with a growth mindset, engaging in extensive discussions and learning rapidly. We are all learning as we go along, but I love batting, and it presents an opportunity for unlimited time at the crease," Knight remarked.
The multi-format Women's Ashes series will include one Test match (worth four points), three ODIs, and three T20Is (each worth two points). Australia has held the Women's Ashes since 2015 and dominated the 2021/22 series at home, winning by a 12-4 margin.