The Ashes 2023: England 'exceeded public expectations' in Women's Ashes - Nat Sciver-Brunt

Venue: Taunton Date: 18 July Time: 13:00 BSTCoverage: Ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live and the website and app, where there will be live text commentary and clips video currently playing (UK only). Highlights on iPlayer and Red Button from 23:00 BST.

A three-point victory on Sunday saw Australia retain the Ashes, and they lead the multi-format series 8-6 ahead of Tuesday's final one-day international.

England started the series as outsider and led 6-0 before equalising.

"It was back and forth and two very competitive teams faced off," Sciver said. -Brunt.

Australia were heavy favorites going into the series, having won the last two Ashes series and as the current world champions in T20 and ODI formats.

It only increased when they won the Test at Trent Bridge and the T20 opener at Edgbaston, but England fought back to win the final two T20s and hand Australia their first series defeat since 2017.

They crossed the line in the opening ODI to even the series, but Sunday's narrow loss means they can't at least better than drawing the series.

"I think we exceeded public expectations," said Sciver-Brunt, who hit an undefeated 111 in Sunday's loss.

"The way we felt as a band, we were pretty confident in the way we We've been prepping and playing for the last year or so. As a team, testing ourselves against the best team in the world, in times of pressure, in sold out crowds, in the biggest Ashes series we've had

< p class="" data-reactid=".1lpyg8fq57e.0.0.0.1.$paragraph-13">"We knew that if we stuck to our guns and played like we wanted it, we definitely had a chance, but I think this series, and the back and forth of both teams, really exceeded everyone's expectations."

Asked if what England have achieved so far, and could achieve with Tuesday's ODI win at Taunton, was a success, the 30-year-old years said: "Yes, I think so.

"Obviously we want to win games for England, but for us we took it out of that and it's more about how we approach things and how we want to play, and inspiring and entertaining the nation and the people who want to watch is ultimately a success for us too.

"For us, success isn't always winning, it's everything else that's included."

A win at Taunton would see England draw the Ashes - something they haven't done since 2017.

Sciver-Brunt says the team quickly analyzed the disappointment of not being able to win the Ashes but are now focusing on winning the ODI series and inflicting another defeat to Australia.

"For the series to be drawn on points that would certainly bring some pride to our performance and how we did it," she said.