Australia icon backs England to pose strong World Cup challenge
With a dismal Ashes series in the rearview, Ellyse Perry believes England can start afresh under newly appointed head coach Charlotte Edwards.
England Women lost all seven games on their multi-format Ashes tour of Australia - a result that was followed by head coach Jon Lewis and captain Heather Knight both stepping down from their roles.
Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry however, is confident that come the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India later this year, England will turn the page with new head coach Charlotte Edwards taking over.
"If you look at the class of that English team and the players they have, their best eleven is a formidable side," Perry told Sky Sports.
"I've got absolutely no doubt that they'll be a very different team this summer in England, but also in the World Cup in India.
"They're a group of champions, and you're always allowed to have some tough periods and challenges where you're a bit off.
"But there's a lot of class in that team, and that will show pretty quickly. It was probably more of a blip than any kind of long-standing issue, so I'm excited to see how Edwards brings them back."
Former England captain Edwards had led the side to an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as well as T20 World Cup titles back in 2009.
WATCH: ICC Hall of Fame | Charlotte Edwards: 'An incredibly adaptable, flexible batter'
ICC Hall of Fame | Charlotte Edwards: 'An incredibly adaptable, flexible batter'
England batter Charlotte Edwards inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2022.
The ICC Hall of Famer will be hoping to take England one step further at the Cricket World Cup in India later this year, having finished as runner-ups in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Both Australia and England have already qualified for the marquee tournament - finishing first and third in the ICC Women’s Championship 2022/25 standings.
Eyes on the T20 World Cup
While Perry will play a pivotal role in Australia’s Cricket World Cup title defence in India, the veteran all-rounder is also eyeing a major summer in England next year that will see them host the Women’s T20 World Cup.
"Culturally, there are so many similarities between Australian and English cricket. I've had the chance to play in England quite a bit across my career, and I always love doing that.
"Playing T20 cricket here, I've also got an eye on the World Cup in England next year, so I'm excited for the chance to be here this summer.
"Everyone's really looking forward to that event. There's a lot of competition, particularly playing in India, that always brings a lot of challenges."
At the previous edition of the tournament, while England were knocked out of the tournament in the group stages, Australia were bested by South Africa in the semi-finals.
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New Zealand win the T20 World Cup | Final | WT20WC 2024