2 April - Christchurch - England Captain Heather Knight pre-match press conference

Reporter: I suppose just to start with an update on players. Is everyone available for selection?

Heather Knight: Yeah, everyone's fit.

Reporter: And you've got the chance tomorrow to do something an England team has never done which is defend that World Cup trophy. Obviously winning a World Cup - It's an amazing achievement. But would it mean a little bit more to defend your title and why do you think it's so difficult to do?

Knight: Well, I think it'll mean more after the start we had this competition I think as well as the tough start that we had and being able to turn it around would be remarkable really. So that would make it even more special if we can do it tomorrow. And yeah, I think like you say we have the opportunity to make history and be the first England team to do that and that's such an exciting thing. Just being involved in World Cup finals is what you set your stall out as a player what you train too hard for what you want to be involved in. So there's huge excitement in the group. We don't think too much - I don't think about 2017 - It's all on the day and it's a brand new day, brand new game and a chance for us to go out and show what we can do.

Reporter: We heard from Kate Cross after that – you’d sing the loudest you’ve ever sung when you're singing the anthem and we noticed about you that you're always absolutely beaming and belting it out as well. And for you what does it mean to lead your country and is the anthem perhaps a chance for you to take it all in and the pressure to go?

Knight: Yeah, definitely. It's a moment I love doing, I'm not the best singer in the team so Nat Sciver unfortunately next to me always gets the tone deaf notes, unfortunately. But yeah, look, it's a huge honour to play for your country, to lead your country and to represent the team in a World Cup final. So to get the chance to do that again tomorrow is very special. And yeah, certainly love the anthem - I've talked in the past about 2017, How emotional that day was and the fact that a lot of players have been involved in getting the game to that point where we're there and the anthem was kind of a real native one for me with Ollie and Ash ringing the bell, Rachel Heflin obviously wasn't with us in 2017. So yeah, I don't think it'll be as emotional, I don’t think it’s 2017. So we’ve obviously got experience with that. Yeah, so it was a lovely moment and the girls love singing it the staff love singing and it's really nice to, to kind of as a group show our passion plan for the country.

Reporter: Might not be as emotional but we've seen you've had a personal fan club following you around for a lot of the game. What's it meant for you to have some support here with obviously most families not able to get here and what's the support like from home been?

Knight: Yeah, my boyfriend's brothers actually live out here. So luckily they've been able to come to the games. They're flying down obviously tomorrow from the North Island to come and watch, so it's really nice just to have some English support here - has been lovely. It's been a couple of other people from England as well. Obviously with COVID and stuff, we haven't been able to have our family and things out here. So just having that support is really nice. And we've been getting some lovely messages, lovely messages of support and people that staying up to watch us and makes a massive difference really appreciate people getting behind us and hopefully the same tomorrow we will get back home and cheer us on.

Reporter: Looking back, I suppose earlier in the campaign, starting naught and three and then turning it around with that win against India. Can you pinpoint a single moment where things kind of clicked into gear for you, what was the kind of special ingredient for you guys to kind of turn it around at that point?

Knight: I don’t think it was a single moment or a special magical thing. I don't think and I know it doesn't fit the story that people want to write but I think it was just about remaining as calm as we could, not panicking. Realizing that a lot of things that were going wrong were in our control. Little things like fielding, bowling extras, poor shot selections, things like that. And there were things that we could change pretty quickly. So realizing that and just staying quite positive, I remember we had a recovery session actually in Mount Maunganui the morning after we'd lost against South Africa, obviously lost the third on, and just trying to keep everyone happy really and everyone positive. And I think the girls did that brilliantly. Sometimes, you have to force it a little bit when obviously you're in a bad situation. But I think the fact that we're very close as a group, I'm really proud actually the fact that we really stuck together I think we've had a long trip. We’ve obviously been in Australia before that had some tough times on this trip. So I think the fact that we stay together speaks volumes about this group and the character that we've got to turn it around and be in the position where we've got chance to win it tomorrow.

Reporter: I suppose one perceived advantage you guys might have over Australia tomorrow is the fact that you've actually played here in Christchurch a little bit over the campaign. They haven't, they’ve been stuck mainly in Wellington. Is there anything that you can kind of take out of perhaps conditions from the previous games you can apply tomorrow?

Knight: Definitely, I think is a slight advantage potentially. We obviously know the conditions, we've played a few games here last year as well. We managed to play here before the World Cup. So yeah, we would definitely use that to our advantage hopefully it's obviously going to be a fresh wicket, though. So both team have to assess quite quickly how it's playing.

Reporter: And just a quick one on Sophie Ecclestone. I know she's played I think 100 matches across all three formats, but she's still in her early 20s. Can you give us a kind of a description of what it was like pre Ecclestone and now in the Ecclestone era. She's on the precipice of taking the most wickets in one single World Cup. What does she bring to the team that England might not have had previously?

Knight: It's mad that she's only in her early 20s and that she's a really complete bowler. And I think she's really stepped up to the big stage. I think she loves being that player that's in the spotlight. That's there doing the job for the team. She loves bowling those tough overs and I think one of the games it was really tight. And I said – you're bowling next one and she did a little fist bump – so it’s kind of was a reminder for me how much she loves being the one to try and win the game for the team and yeah, just to see her mature and come into her own in this World Cup has been great with the bat as well is a thing that she's been working very hard on and wanted to contribute in that way. So she's a real fighter. I think she loves the competition. So yeah to see her doing so well is really pleasing.

Reporter: You were quoted in a Press Association article telling your teammates that it's written that England will win the final tomorrow. Can I ask what you mean by that and where you find the confidence to play Australia given you’ve lost the last seven ODIs against them?

Knight: I don't know where that's come from. I don't remember saying that. I think I might have said it's a good story if we are able to win out I think - the stage is set a little bit for us to write a remarkable story but like I've said previously, I think it's a completely fresh slate. A fresh day, fresh game where both us and Australia will go in as equals and its who performs the most on the day who deals with the pressure of a World Cup final and knowing what's at stake. So yeah, it would be a great story but we're going to have to be - sort of bring our best cricket to beat Australia who obviously are a very good side.

Reporter: My question for you is many people have written you off after three losses, how fulfilling is it for you to reach the finals. And have a chance at retaining the World Cup?

Knight: Yes, it’s obviously brilliant. To be in this position knowing where we were just a couple of weeks ago is remarkable. And it shows how things can change so quickly in sport. And just says a lot about the character in this group that we managed to obviously put ourselves in a position to be in a World Cup final and give us a chance to actually win that trophy. Remarkably proud of the group proud of the staff that have been in the shift as well. So yeah, hopefully we can pay off all that hard work and all the lows I guess we've had over this trip and make winning if we do that even better.

Reporter: My question to you is the Ashes and the defeat in the group stage against Australia. As a captain do you today use that as a point of motivation for your team to look back at those results and say we have to do better than that or you just completely not talk about it and treat it as a fresh match and a word on your coach and how important the support staff been in this turnaround?

Knight: Yeah, So the games against Australia. I think, knowing the fact that we pushed them so close, I think is a really good sign. I think we did that at a point in the Ashes when we went harder than we definitely completed and pushed them close. We just weren't quite able to finish off games. I think in that first group game we pushed really hard, batted remarkably and actually I think our bowling’s starting to peak towards the back end of the competition. I don’t think our bowling was quite on in that game, and the bowlers as a unit are working much better as a group now. So I don't think it's motivation. I think it's just remembering that we're really not that far away from them. We obviously haven't got the results against them recently. But on the day we definitely believe that we can beat them.

On the second question. Yeah, Lisa’s been great. I think all the support staff have been brilliant. Particularly in the last few games. We've obviously been playing must win cricket for a long time. And I think the fact that the staff as a group of myself have tried to keep it very simple and not change too much just because, obviously playing knockout cricket, I think that's really important. Trying to have that stability and not change too many things and create undue anxieties, just because it's a big game. I think if we do what we do well, tomorrow, I think we could be successful, so we're just going to try and do that.

Reporter: First question I have is what learnings what experience are you carrying from the previous World Cup final? And what will you remind the girls in the dressing room before stepping on the field?

Knight: Yeah, I guess it was obviously a long time ago now but I think the positive memories that a lot of this group have of winning the 50-over World Cup finals will be really useful for us. I think knowing that we can deal with that pressure that when games are close and things are at stake. We've got the players in there that can bring their best cricket and rise to the occasion. So I think it's the experience we'll try and take of dealing with everything that the World Cup final brings and trying to embrace the pressure, embrace everything that the game throws at you. So yeah, I don't think we’ll take too much but just the memories of being able to deal with pressure.

Reporter: My question to you is that you have had a knock out mentality since your fourth game. How important will that be tomorrow considering that you haven't beaten Australia in the last four ODI’s this year?

Knight: Yeah, I think we've built some momentum nicely. We've obviously got a brilliant semifinal. The other day the fact that we bought our most complete performance when the biggest stakes are on the line I think is outstanding to do that is obviously what you want to do. And we'd love to do that again tomorrow in the final. But yeah, we've had that knockout mentality for a long time. It almost feels a little bit like another game. I'm sure there'd be nerves and dealing with that but the fact that we've been able to do that when we've been under pressure, it's been very pleasing and hopefully we can do it against for one more win.

Reporter: Actually. You spoke about maybe before the end of the game that you just calm things down, went back to the processes and when you're trying to keep everything as normal and calm as possible. Do you have to balance that by also allowing the team to ride the wave that you've currently got with that run of almost knockout games mentality. You almost want them to be probably more fired up than you would calm them down?

Knight: I think it’s an individual thing, isn't it? I think most players are on a spectrum of when they perform their best. Some players being more fired up is a positive thing whereas other players it potentially can be a negative thing. So as individuals it's finding that sweet spot of when you are at your best. And that'll be different for every individual. So I guess knowing what the team needs at that time and I don't think anyone will be under fired up for a World Cup final - is what you dream of playing in the games that are the most important in your career and the games that you want to enjoy and bring your best. So I don't think anyone will need firing up anymore. I think it's just trying to make sure everyone has clarity when they're under pressure, I think is one of the most important things making sure that you're going through the process and trying to execute what you do best as an individual.

Reporter: You touched briefly on the improvement as the bowlers throughout the course of the tournament. I know Sophie particularly never the best Ashes or the opening game against Australia. Can you just talk a bit how she's transformed her bowling throughout this tournament to be where she's at right now?

Knight: Yeah, I think it was probably that first game against Australia. I think it was what obviously was her first World Cup game and I think there were maybe a few nerves around and she was really disappointed with how she performed actually and I think the maturity she showed to obviously take in what went wrong and have the resilience to come back the way she has is brilliant. She’s worked super hard in the nets after that game, tweaking a few things, making sure she's executing what she needs to and keeping it very simple - one thing that works for Soph is keeping it very simple. Bowling her best ball as much as she can and having those subtle variations when she gets the gut feeling of a batter coming out or whatever. So yeah, she's done a remarkable job to turn that around. And I know knowing Soph that obviously with the start she had against Australia wasn't her best game. I'll know that she'll want to be the one to really dominate and really perform tomorrow.