Hussain Questions England's Progress Under Knight and Lewis After Ashes Defeat
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Synopsis
In light of England's loss in the Women's Ashes, Nasser Hussain has questioned the team's improvement under Heather Knight and Jon Lewis. Following Australia's victory, he emphasizes the need for self-reflection rather than just focusing on the opposition's strengths.
Key Takeaways
- Nasser Hussain questions England women's team's progress.
- Australia retains Women's Ashes with an 8-0 lead.
- Last Ashes victory for England was 11 years ago.
- Concerns raised about fitness levels among players.
- Jon Lewis yet to secure a major trophy as head coach.
New Delhi, Jan 22 (NationPress) In the wake of England's defeat in the Women’s Ashes, former men's captain Nasser Hussain has posed a critical question regarding whether the team has shown any signs of improvement under skipper Heather Knight and head coach Jon Lewis.
Hussain’s pointed remarks follow Australia’s retention of the Women's Ashes after their victory in the first T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground, establishing a commanding 8-0 lead in the multi-format series. Despite four more matches remaining, England appears unlikely to stage a comeback to at least equalize the series.
“The response and events unfolding remind me of our experiences back then. While we weren’t whitewashed—and this England women's team hasn’t been either—they’ve faced losses in their first four matches,” he noted.
“The Ashes have slipped away; I lost them in 12 days, and Heather Knight in nine days—though in different formats. This must be incredibly disheartening. Australia has displayed their superiority. To put things into perspective, Australia hasn’t lost an ODI series at home in 38 years!
“They rank among the greatest teams ever. However, rather than fixating on the opposition, it’s essential to reflect on your own squad. Are you truly improving under Knight and Jon Lewis? That’s the pertinent question,” Hussain stated on Sky Sports’ Cricket Podcast.
England last triumphed in the women’s Ashes 11 years ago, and the last trophy under Heather’s leadership was the 2017 ODI World Cup on home soil. Since taking the helm as head coach in 2022, Lewis has yet to lead England to a significant title.
Following England's premature exit from last year's T20 World Cup, former left-arm spinner Alex Hartley asserted that some players were “letting their team down” regarding their fitness. Recently, she also mentioned that spinner Sophie Ecclestone declined to engage in a TV interview with her. Nonetheless, Hussain opted to empathize with Alex’s perspective.
“I found Alex Hartley’s comments quite reasonable. It’s her duty to express her observations. It’s also up to players to respond; I’ve been in similar situations, facing critiques from Ian Botham, Bob Willis, and Jonathan Agnew. Engaging with the media is a part of your responsibility,” he explained.
“However, I’ve encountered some players in the men’s game who inquire about who is conducting the interview. Alex raised concerns about fitness and fielding specifically. Clearly, some team members have reacted poorly to that. It’s been a disappointing couple of weeks,” he concluded.
