Nat Sciver-Brunt denied England have a mental block after they face Australia despite one other defeat to their bitter rivals in the ultimate of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Australia made it 7-0 in all World Cup final showdowns between the teams to seal a record-extending seventh T20 crown in 10 editions following a seven-wicket win at a sold-out Lord’s on Sunday.
England were also whitewashed 16-0 within the last Ashes Down Under but captain Sciver-Brunt insisted the one-sided nature of the rivalry had no bearing on what unfolded at the house of cricket.
“It’s a World Cup final,” Sciver-Brunt said. “A World Cup that has meant a lot to us, so I believe the over-riding feeling is that we’ve lost a World Cup final, not ‘oh no, it’s Australia again’.”
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PICTURE: Gareth Fuller/PA
Hugely disenchanted
She continued: “Yes, it’s Australia, but to me they’re quite a distinct side to the one we played within the Ashes.
“I do know everyone in our team are hugely disenchanted in that but not pondering an excessive amount of on the opposition.
“They were extremely clinical and really impressive and sometimes you don’t need to win.”
Sciver-Brunt was emotional when reflecting on being accompanied by son Theo, with whom she parents alongside wife and former England team-mate Katherine, for the national anthems.
“I probably won’t play a house World Cup again so having the chance to bring Theo out was really special,” she added. “I’m going to cry, so I can’t really inform you how special.”
PICTURE: Gareth Fuller/PA
Outplayed
Sciver-Brunt, fresh from her match-winning semi-final heroics against South Africa, made a stodgy 53-ball 58 not out, with Freya Kemp upping England to 150 for 4 with an unbeaten 44 off 28 deliveries.
Their efforts were put within the shade as Australia recovered from the early lack of Georgia Voll, with Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield putting on exactly 100 in 67 deliveries to interrupt the back of the chase.
Mooney’s 64 was her fourth successive fifty-plus rating in a World Cup final and Australia cruised to victory with 17 balls to spare to regain the crown they surrendered to Recent Zealand in 2024.
“I might have liked to have had loads higher strike-rate after hitting my first ball for 4,” Sciver-Brunt said.
“It wasn’t my intention. I desired to play through the innings but be a bit of freer in trying to seek out the boundary.
“I’m obviously sitting here feeling like I could have done loads higher than that.
“The tournament has to finish with someone losing so I don’t want our girls to forget how proud we might be about all the things we’ve done throughout this tournament but we were outplayed today.”
PICTURE: Steven Paston/PA
Professionalism
Head coach Charlotte Edwards believes England have “won back the fans” by reaching the ultimate.
Uncomfortable questions on England’s fitness, fielding and attitude were raised following their last Ashes loss, which followed hot on the heels of a bunch stage exit within the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Edwards has been open about wanting to enhance their professionalism when she took up her role last 12 months and she or he feels how they’ve performed in recent weeks has got supporters back onside.
“They’ve won back the fans, which is outstanding, and I can’t thank the supporters enough,” Edwards told the BBC’s Test Match Special.
“We’re not talking about fitness or fielding, I wanted us to speak in regards to the cricket. So although we’ve missed out today, I don’t think we ought to be disheartened.
“It is a very, excellent Australian team who’ve dominated women’s cricket for years and we’re not too distant.”
READ MORE: England come up short as Australia win Women’s T20 World Cup at Lord’s
