T20 Success Doesn't Tell Full Story For England

Luke Baker explains why a consolation T20 victory does not do anything to hide the gulf in class that exists between England and Ashes winners Australia

- Luke Baker

When the pantheon of all-time hollow victories is created, England’s win in the final match of the 2019 Women’s Ashes will slot right in near the top.

Nominally, England ended the Ashes on a high – besting Australia in a 17-run triumph in the final T20I Bristol – but in truth, the horse hadn’t just bolted by that point, it had galloped all the way to the cliff edge.

At the end of a series where they were thoroughly and consistently outclassed by their Australian foes, the hosts raged against the dying of the light to at least narrow the final deficit to 12-4.

Undoubtedly the scantest of consolations but England appeared to finally land on a winning mix of youth and experience in the last t20 international.

Katherine Brunt, 34, was named player of the match following an unbeaten 25 with the bat and 3-21 with the ball, while 20-year-old spinners Sophie Ecclestone and Mady Villiers took five wickets between them.

The victory certainly shouldn’t overshadow the yawning gulf between the sides that has been exposed this summer but for the more optimistic England supporter, perhaps the contest can serve as a springboard to better things – just like skipper Heather Knight suggested in the aftermath.

“We talked about drawing a line after the second T20 loss,” she said. “This being day one of our turnaround and trying to rebuild to being the team that we were – competing, pushing on and really trying to catch up to the Aussies.