Beaumont said after the win over New Zealand in Durham that England wanted to achieve even more dominant victories, especially given the “inspiration and enjoyment” motto that has underpinned their efforts over the past two years.
“We talked a lot this morning about how we want to play 50-over cricket and what it is that inspires and entertains, sometimes being ruthless and putting on a show like that.” Beaumont said. “To respond to that conversation and go straight out there and execute on it… the bowling in particular was absolutely ruthless.
“It’s definitely a word we’ve started to use a bit more,” she added. “We want to enjoy our cricket, we want to show off, we want to show our skills and how much talent we have in the dressing room, but really we want to win cricket matches and dominate at the same time. And those two can definitely be mutually exclusive. So I think it was still fun to play today but still incredibly ruthless and a bit of a statement about the start of the series.
“That’s not necessarily everything. We still want to push the game forward and take it to as many new heights as possible. But at the same time, when you have your foot on your neck, we want to drive that advantage home. “I will try my best.”
England’s performance showed what they are capable of, considering the talent they have. Heather Knight was barely called up after arriving with 20 points to spare, Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt were unused, and both Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley were left out of the starting XI, the latter following a disappointing performance. He regained his place in the squad afterward. New Zealand travel.
Beaumont and Cross are in a position where they are left out of the T20I selection, with the World Cup still three months away, but they are also crucial for England’s 50-over campaign in 2025 and, if applicable, for Test matches.
“I found the Ashes very difficult last year,” she said. “I had a record high of 200 in a Test match and then literally an hour after the Test was over I was told I would be out for the next 10 days so that was a relief. Then you have 10 days of local cricket and then you have to win every game in the Ashes to keep going and keep it going. What the girls did in the T20s was incredible but there was really pressure to get back into it. Being an opening batsman, maintaining that role and not being the one who messes it up and loses the Ashes is very difficult to deal with.
“But unfortunately that’s the situation that people like me and Kate Cross find ourselves in. It feels like you have to constantly influence to stay competitive but that’s what you have to do. We’re both good enough at sticking to our principles. If you accept that the game is hard then there’s nothing anyone can really do unless they pick you in T20 but I don’t think that’s going to happen. It is.”
New Zealand needs a lot of reflection and improvement to bounce back after losing the home T20 and ODI series against England in March and April.
“I was a bit confused because I had just put the kit on, but yeah, when Georgia gets a bit older she can say ‘no’ to Mellie,” Halliday said. “We’ve talked recently about trying to get a bit closer to the stumps to get the single down mid-on and that’s worked against her a bit… It’s just a shame how she’s come off but it’s a good sign.
“Individually, everyone will reflect on batting, bowling and fielding and then we will come together as a group and see what we want to work on and how we will approach the next match. We will not think too much about it. “I’m sure, but you always have to reflect and take what you can from games like this.”
Valkerie Baynes is the executive editor of women’s cricket at ESPNcricinfo.
