💥 Check out this insightful post from BBC Sport 📖
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The fallout and scrutiny in England after the Ashes was so great that it would not be a quick fix for Edwards, who was appointed to replace John Lewis in the aftermath.
Even here in India and Sri Lanka, where they are unbeaten, there are still areas that need significant improvement if they are to qualify for the semi-finals, most notably a fragile middle system that relies heavily on Skiver Brandt and Heather Knight.
However, given that much of the criticism they faced surrounded their attitude and perceptions of the public, there was a notable difference in this regard.
Sciver-Brunt said before the tournament that the team was “chalk and cheese” from the team that finished the Ashes in Melbourne.
They were beaten within three days in a one-off Test, exhausted by a brutal winless tour, and consoled by their family and friends, while jubilant Australians basked in glory.
But here, England feels relaxed and quietly confident. They are more interactive with the media, and when they are under pressure on the field, they keep their nerve rather than getting upset.
Under Lewis their slogan was “Inspire and Entertain”, which often seemed to get lost in translation as they became overly aggressive, but under Edwards things changed – in fact, they even became boring.
“That’s the way things can go in ODI cricket sometimes – you just have to stay in it, try to be boring, try to control the game as much as you can,” fast bowler Lauren Bell told BBC Sport.
“If you can run tight, after tight, after tight, that’s a way to build pressure and then hopefully the wickets will come.
“I’ve been told to be a bore a lot when it comes to bowling, as in the same ball – your best ball as possible.
“We’ve come a long way since we played Australia in the Ashes. Lottie [Charlotte Edwards] Really big on just winning, working your way through whatever it looks like or however it comes out – sometimes winning ugly is something you have to learn how to do.”
The knockout stage is looming and this is where their new process and mentality will be tested, but on Wednesday England will have a chance to show they have put the Ashes behind them while being in form and riding a wave of positivity – something they are rarely afforded.
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