1 April - Christchurch - England player Sophie Ecclestone press conference

Reporter: First of all, how do you feel after that? And how great is it to reach a second successive World Cup final?

Sophie Ecclestone: Yeah, obviously it's a great feeling getting through to the World Cup final. I think it's something we've been working towards after a loss of three - we lost three games at the start so yeah, it's great to get to final and hopefully we can put on a show on Sunday.

Reporter: Do you think it helps that pretty much after the first three matches every game became a sort of mini semifinal in itself?

Ecclestone: Yeah, the game was a knockout game for us when we lost our first few games, I think we play so much about when we're under pressure. So it was great to have some games and we've gone and beat and now since that so yeah, it's obviously great feeling.

Reporter: And finally, for me just a word on your first fifer in the World Cup and also you finished with six wickets?

Ecclestone: Yeah, I'm ecstatic. I think it's something I've been working hard for. I think I've been turning five for four a while now. So yeah, so a really proud moment for me and my family.

Reporter: Just look back on your journey in the last couple of years now you're the world's number one bowler, you've been around for a while you pretty much been at the top of the T20 game for a while. Now on top of the ODI charts, how has this journey been and what are the specific challenges that you've had to overcome to get to this point?

Ecclestone: Yeah, I think it came in as a T20 player when I first started really, and it's taught me to be a lot more patient with the ball, so I've got a lot more patient in ODI cricket. So, yeah, it's taken a lot, a lot of work, work hard. So, to get our first fiver as well, I feel great. Got a lot of rhythm. So yeah, it's obviously a great feeling for me.

Reporter: And just a quick follow up. You started the tournament with 0 for 77 against Australia. And you've been the best bowler for the side since you're now top of the bowling charts as well, with 17 wickets. How was that turnaround been for you from that first match till now?

Ecclestone: Yeah, massive. I think it's another great day out against the Aussies. I think it's fair to say so I think it's come back the way I did. I'm really proud of myself and the teams that fight back to it's been amazing to watch that and obviously witnessed that myself and yeah, it's obviously great to come out the way I did.

Reporter: And a word on that review?

Ecclestone: Embarrassing, move on.

Reporter: Just could you, talk to us about the small mini battle that you had with Ismail today when you were batting and then with the ball as well.

Ecclestone: No, obviously I got out so it's all fun and games on the pitch and yeah, I just thought I want to get even so it's quite nice at the pitch after game. It's all fine now - it's great to have that battle on the pitch and it's great to just be fine off the pitch.

Reporter: Also, Heather told that before the match that at the start of the tournament if you had asked if this would be the way you would get here it would be possible to believe- would you talk to us about the last three four games where almost every match is a knockout and then one day of cricket away from you know successful title defense?

Ecclestone: Yeah, obviously we didn’t start great, the three losses wasn't great but yeah to come back the way we have I think – Heather is very proud of this group and what we've achieved so hopefully we can go up there on Sunday and do it for Heather really.

Reporter: Can you just sort of talk us through the now well documented turnaround sort of from three losses down to the run that the teams had? What was that like actually turning it around and can you put it down to one thing in particular or a moment that sort of twisted it for you?

Ecclestone: I think when we lost three of those there was a few tears in the changing room after the game I think everyone was very disappointed for how it'd gone but I think just the turning point was that we had a few meetings just to say we've got nothing to lose now, just go out and put what we're doing at the training ground into a game and go have no fear which I think we have done and we've not stood up at our best cricket so getting through to the final not put our best cricket yet, that's obviously so good to see from this group.

Reporter: And just a quick one - Danny Wyatt ran over and jumped into your arms when you took your last wicket there, just a word on her performance,

Ecclestone: She is absolutely incredible. I think she's just going to show how good she is at T20 Cricket and as well now as ODI cricket -she's a big sister to me and the first half of the day we did I think we're so proud and it's something I look back on when we’re much older and yeah, be very proud of ourselves.

Reporter: What do you think the impact of this is going to have on youngsters throughout the country and girls coming to an obviously amazing domestic setup now and you're obviously still so young yourself, but you've got people coming through that kind of setup and like you started, what kind of impact is this going to have on the future of women's cricket in England?

Ecclestone: Yeah, massive, I think. When I was doing well at the World Cup, people were watching our game so I think I know I feel the girls from Albany will be watching our games and looking up to what we can do and what Benny can do hitting the runs. I think some of them will find it in a minute so yeah, I think it's great for the women's game and hopefully we can put a massive show to get even more girls involved in the game.

Reporter: And a hint towards an IPL perhaps.

Ecclestone: Oh, yeah, that'd be amazing if there was an IPL. Yeah, I definitely put my hand up for that one.

Reporter: Yeah, I think you probably get a few bids on that one.

Reporter: Can you just talk about the fact it's going to be Australia in the final - Obviously, everything that you've gone through against them this winter. They're such a powerful team. But it's almost the perfect way for you to win the World Cup, isn't it to get one over the Aussies?

Ecclestone: Yeah, I think you couldn't put it better - yeah, I think that'd be the perfect win – perfect end. Yeah, for or season for us. I think – beating the Aussies - I can't really put into words after the ashes we had. I really believe in this group on our day we can definitely beat the Aussies. And I think we've got a great chance to.

Reporter: How do you beat them? Where is their weakness?

Ecclestone: I don't think we worry about them too much. I think we worry about ourselves and just do what we can do and then know if we play our best cricket, and our batters bat the way they can on the bowlers bowl - we've got such a great unit as a team. So yeah, we'll just focus on ourselves. And yeah, do the best we can.

Reporter: I just wanted to find out. England has always been a very, very strong team. And now you and Australia go up against each other in the final. Women's cricket generally has had a very, very hard couple of years. So what do you think has set England apart from everyone else? In terms of just how they've come into this tournament? Is it a system? Is it your selection process? What do you sort of been it down to?

Ecclestone: I think it's massive down to girls who work so hard during the winter, from Monday to Thursday, and everyone training so hard there and I think as a team, we've gotten so very lucky that we want the best for each other so when we go out and play cricket, I think we do it for each other and yeah, I think we want the best for everyone.

Reporter: My question is this is your third ICC tournament, and this is your third knockout stage after the heartbreak of a 2018 T20 World Cup final and 2020 World Cup final, where you didn't get the opportunity to participate in the final, how important it is for you personally and as a unit to be in this final after such a close matches and heartbreaks?

Ecclestone: Yeah, it's absolutely massive for me personally I think I've not wanted to make a trophy since I've started playing for England and I'd really love to win that sooner rather than later. So yeah, I think it's also massive for the group. I think we showed how good we can be and we show - the girls in the 17 World Cup how good we are so yeah, hopefully we can go out and play our best cricket and prove the side we are.