Heather Knight says England must take hope from their miraculous comeback in 2023 as they seek to retain their Women’s Ashes victory in the first T20 match in Sydney on Monday.

England trailed 6-0 on the points table after Australia completed their ODI whitewash with an 86-run victory in Hobart on Friday. The home team now needs just two more points to retain the Ashes.

But all hope was not lost for Captain Knight, noting that her team bounced back from a similar deficit two years ago to eventually tie the series at 8-8.

“What we’ve learned from the 2023 Ashes series when we’re in the same position is to really focus on what we have to do in the moment,” Knight said.

“It will be tough, no doubt, but we will try to do our best in the T20s and I think the change in format will suit us very well.”

All-rounder Freya Kemp, spinner Linsey Smith and wicketkeeper Bess Heath will join the squad for the T20 stages as England look to improve on a disappointing Re-establish their dominance in the shorter format after the 2024 World Cup.

“I think that’s a real strength for us,” Knight added. “It’s a format that girls really enjoy playing and it suits a lot of roles in the group because it’s fast and exciting.

“I think the mental aspect suits us as well and we can draw a line in the one-day series and then play on a beautiful cricket ground and hopefully put in a really strong performance.”

Will the T20 format help England improve?

With the ODI leg of the multi-format series now over, the move to T20s should be a boon for England.

The format is arguably England’s strongest, with Knight’s side winning seven of eight T20 matches ahead of the Ashes, including a 3-0 whitewash in the recent T20 tour of South Africa .

“I think the change in format is really good for us. T20 is one of our best formats and I think the little tweaks will do us some good,” Knight said.

“T20 is a format that a lot of girls love to play and I hope this change will do us a lot of good.”

With the arrival of the new format, England’s T20 team takes over the baton from their ODI opponents for Monday’s crucial match in Sydney.

“I think the change of format will boost morale and put everyone at ease,” Nat Sciver-Brunt said. “Having the new staff will bring energy to us and we’re looking forward to it Back to Sydney.”

However, the current ranking of the best T20 teams in the world has Australia topping the list, with England in second place.

2025 Women’s Ashes Schedule

All dates and times in the UK and Ireland

• First foreign direct investment: Saturday 11 January – North Sydney Oval – Australia wins by four wickets
• The second foreign direct investment: Monday 13 January – Junction Oval, Melbourne – Australia won by 21 points
• The third overseas direct investment: Thursday 16 January – Hobart Ninja Stadium – Australia won by 86 runs
• First T20I: Monday 20 January 8:40am – Sydney Cricket Ground
• Second T20I: Thursday 23 January 8.40am – Manuka Oval, Canberra
• Third T20I: Saturday 25 January 8am – Adelaide Oval
• test: Thursday 30 January to 3.30am Sunday 2 February – MCG, Melbourne