Cricket

England Women's cricket team has undergone a significant transformation under head coach Jon Lewis, embracing a more aggressive and attacking style of play. However, captain Heather Knight emphasizes the importance of becoming smarter and adapting to different conditions.Since Lewis' appointment in 2022, England has drawn the Ashes series against Australia and defeated New Zealand in both ODIs and T20Is. However, Knight acknowledges that the team still has room for improvement.During their recent series against Pakistan, England struggled to maintain consistency and polish. Knight believes that the upcoming series against New Zealand will provide an opportunity to build on the lessons learned during their tour of New Zealand earlier this year."We became a bit of a smarter team," Knight said. "We learned how to adapt to different conditions and how to be a bit more patient when necessary."England's recent record has been impressive, with only two ODI losses and 21 T20I wins since December 2022. However, Knight stresses the importance of continuing to improve and winning games even when the conditions are not ideal."Our job is just to keep getting better and keep playing the cricket that we want to play," Knight said. "We need to be smart with it and adapt to what's in front of us."The balance between aggression and adaptability is crucial in T20 cricket, where margins for error are small. Knight highlights the importance of being clear on individual roles and responsibilities within the team.Beyond on-field success, Knight is also passionate about inspiring young people through cricket. She has worked with Chance to Shine, a children's cricket charity, for many years, and believes that providing positive experiences for state-school children is essential for the growth of the sport."It's really important to try to get cricket into state schools," Knight said. "Chance to Shine is doing amazing work in giving young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to experience cricket."