England Women have been told they ‘can really pounce’ on Australia with Meg Lanning missing this summer’s Ashes.
With the men’s series having got underway at Edgbaston last week, the women get their summer underway with the only Test at Headingley on Thursday. They will then play three T20s and three ODIs in a multi-format series.
Australia are favourites to retain the urn, though will be without captain Lanning, who misses out on the whole series due to a medical issue.
And Sky Sports commentator Simon Doull, who played 32 Test matches for New Zealand, believes the hosts need to make the most of Lanning’s absence.
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“She’s in the top two or three players in the world,” Doull told Daily Star Sport. “It’s an enormous loss.
“Australia have strength in depth, I get that, but from a leadership point of view, from her runs, her grittiness, toughness, everything she offers to that Australian side, she is a massive, massive loss.
“It’s a great opportunity for England to take advantage of that and make the most of it. They will miss her dearly, Australia will, and that’s something England can really pounce on.”
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England’s men did not divert from their Bazball style in the opening Test against Australia last week. Though Doull does not expect the women to follow suit.
“You have to have the players to do so,” he added. “And there are certain players, Nat Sciver-Brunt springs to mind straightaway, we’ve seen her be overly aggressive in T20 cricket and score runs for fun.
“There’s options in and around that side, but I don’t think they will be adopting exactly the same style and brand.
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“Partly because they don’t get to play Test match cricket that often, so to do it as a one-off all of a sudden, and if they didn’t get it right, I just think they would regret it.
“I think you’ll see the women play a very similar style to what they have played.”
Every match of the men’s and women’s Ashes will be shown exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW