Former England captain Heather Knight hailed the aggression of openers Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley as the key to taking on Australia at next year's Ashes. The duo combined for a defining opening stand of 143 to inspire England to their highest ever ODI chase in Tuesday's six-wicket win over Ireland. Bouchier in particular starred as she fired 104 off 95 deliveries to notch her second ODI century as England reached 282 with 71 balls left.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "I remember Maia getting her first 100 a few years ago and it was a bit of a monkey off her back, it was probably the most nervous I've ever seen anybody in the 90s and yesterday she seemed to breeze through it," Knight told Sky Sports. "She's a crazy talented individual and when she works it out how to go about things against the real top teams under pressure she can be a world beater. "She's a brilliant player to watch, very aesthetically pleasing, has all the shots and is having the opportunity to open the batting again, it's somewhere she enjoys batting so I'm really pleased for her to get those runs.
"To see Sophia play aggressively and take the game on I'm really pleased for her too. It was a match-defining opening partnership." Bouchier and Dunkley's key contributions came in the absence of England regulars Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones, while also coming in the wake of Knight and Tammy Beaumont's retirement as part of an experimental side. "Seeing Maia Bouchier and Sophia Dunkley back at the top of the order and being able to get a record chase was a really good sign with what is a young and exciting group," Knight continued.
"Quite a fresh-faced team and a few players who have been around a while getting opportunities. Really great start to that series and I'm sure they'll be raring to go again." The series comes a year out from England's home Ashes campaign against Australia, the sole Test of which begins on June 24 followed by three Twenty20 matches and three ODIs in July. It represents the latest opportunity for coach Charlotte Edwards to cast her eye over new options in her lineup.
"Getting what that team looks like in place is really important," said Knight. "You want to go into an Ashes series really clear on roles and what your best team is, so I think there's a bit of working out to do there with a few players coming in. "I think they'll be really keen to improve the bowling yesterday in terms of the accuracy and wicket-taking ability.
"And just getting that lineup right is important in how they beat Australia. "Maia and Sophia went out yesterday with the bat and took the game on, that's a way to go about beating Australia, you have to be aggressive against them." Tuesday marked the first time England have played since Knight's retirement, the former captain admitting she remains happy with her decision to call time at the crease. "It was probably good gratification that I've made the right decision," she said.
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