England bowler has places firmly set on World Cup and Ashes
The England Women's team has made it a priority to keep Sally Ecclestone motivated as her ranking of the world bowling ratings moves nicely into its second year. They are assured that Ecclestone is unharmed.
After Ecclestone ripped through New Zealand's line- up with her irrepressible remaining- arm spin, snaring 5 for 25 in nine overs during Sunday's next ODI in Worcester, captain Heather Knight told the post- match presentation:" She loves taking wickets and we have to do some crazy fields to keep her engaged".
Before, after England had defeated Pakistan in two house whitened- ball series where Ecclestone took 11 wickets from five matches across formats, Jon Lewis, their head coach, said:" She has an amazing talent and then our job is to is to make sure that she keeps enjoying her cricket".
Thus far, so good on that front.
" A huge one for me is the people", Ecclestone told the ESPNcricinfo Powerplay audio. " That certainly keeps me curious, that I travel the world with my best companions and you play cricket for your land with your best companions.
" And the opposition, I love the opposition. Ashes line, World Cup finals, very innings in a World Cup, that's what I live for, that's what I train for and that's what we all teach for. Winning prizes, it's certainly away there too, but I'll usually keep interested. I wear my spirit on my jacket and you'll notice that."
As a 17-year-old who was just starting out in a T20I against Pakistan in Bristol in July 2016, Ecclestone made her global album. Against the same opposition next quarter, she became England's leading batsman- keeper in T20Is, passing Katherine Sciver- Brunt's 114. She then has 118 at an average of 14.70 and market price of 5.81. In OD Is, she now has 108 wickets at 19.94 and 3.66.
Ecclestone did n't feature in England's 50- over World Cup triumph in 2017, by which time she had only four global crowns in all, but she played in the Women's Ashes series which followed a few months after where Australia retained the Ashes in the early stages of a era which is now almost a century old.
Along with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh this October, next year's Ashes series in Australia is a key motivator for Ecclestone who, now 25, has been No. 1 in the ICC's world T20I bowling rankings since February 2020 and since March 2022 in OD Is.
" It's just win a World Cup and an Ashes, "Ecclestone said when asked what remained on her list to achieve". That World Cup at Lord's, that was the last World Cup]England ] won and we've not won an Ashes since because I've been a part of them all, so it'd be really nice to do that in the space of six months, win the World Cup in Bangladesh, win the Ashes. For us, it would be a wonderful few months.
" It's just the history," she added of the lure of another Ashes campaign". After playing a few years of Big Bash, I now get on with the other team really well.
It's always really exciting to try to get one up on your friends, get them out, give them a hand, and have a little laugh afterwards. They're a fantastic cricket team to watch, and we should be able to defeat them in the new year and celebrate with utmost success.
After performing her best in Worcester, Ecclestone made way for Sarah Glenn in the rain-hit third and final ODI against the White Ferns in Bristol, Sophia Dunkley and Lauren Bell taking the place of Danni Wyatt and Lauren Filer.
Ecclestone and Glenn form part of England's enviable spin- bowling triumvirate, along with off- spinner Charlie Dean, who took 4 for 38 in the series opener in Durham. That was only the second time all three have played an ODI together but it is a combination Lewis is keen to employ wherever possible.
" I always say I'm biased because I love playing with other spinners", Ecclestone said. " It's a nice little trio, me, Glenny and Deano, and we all bring something different whether it's on the pitch or off the pitch. To have them alongside me and play alongside each other, we help each other out.
It's not about always taking wickets, but rather working hard for one another because Deano showed her class the other day and Glenny held up one end for Deano to take all the wickets.
" If you look at our squad now with the youngsters coming through, you've got the likes of Maia Bouchier, she absolutely nailed it the other day, and then you've got Alice Capsey, still only 19, she's ridiculous.
" And me, Glenny, Deano also so young and Lauren Bell, the list goes on and it's so exciting to have these players to be a part of the next generation of women's cricket and England cricket and it's really exciting to see what we can do as a group."
Ecclestone gives the impression that she's either very modest, or does n't know quite how good she is. She says she is n't" stats driven"- she did n't know she was close to Sciver- Brunt's T20I wickets record- and she's quick to praise her team- mates, often while deflecting attention from herself. And her team- mates appear to appreciate her as much for her bowling talent as for wearing her heart on her sleeve, as she puts it, and keeping them buoyant in the field.
Ecclestone seems more than happy to give her a heads-up, even though her team wants to make sure their prized possession is entertained by what she does.
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