Browsing: scars

Cricket

Women’s World Cup 2025: England face Australia with a golden opportunity to heal Ashes scars

The fallout and scrutiny on England after the Ashes was so significant that it was never going to be a quick fix for Edwards, who was ushered in to replace Jon Lewis in the aftermath.

Even here in India and Sri Lanka, where they are unbeaten, there are still areas needed to improve considerably if they are to kick on past the semi-finals, most notably a fragile middle order which is relying heavily on Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight.

However, considering that much of the criticism they faced surrounded their attitude and perception to the public, there has been a notable difference in that regard.

Sciver-Brunt said before the tournament the team was “chalk and cheese” from the one which ended the Ashes in Melbourne.

They had been thumped inside three days in the one-off Test and worn down by a brutal, winless tour, consoled by their families and friends, while the jubilant Australians basked in the glory.

But here, England are relaxed and quietly confident. They are more engaging with the media, and when under pressure on the field have held their nerve rather than buckling.

Under Lewis their mantra was to “inspire and entertain”, which seemed to get lost in translation quite often as they became overly aggressive, but under Edwards things have shifted – in fact, they are even embracing being boring.

“It’s the way it can go in ODI cricket sometimes – you just have to stay in it, try and be boring, try and control the game as much as you can,” fast bowler Lauren Bell told BBC Sport.

“If you can bowl tight over, after tight over, after tight over, it’s a way of building pressure and then the wicket will hopefully come.

“I get told to be boring a lot when it comes to bowling, as in bowl the same ball – your best ball as much as possible.

“We’ve come a long way since we played Australia in the Ashes. Lottie’s [Charlotte Edwards] really big on just winning, and working out a way however it looks or however it might come – sometimes winning ugly is something that you need to learn how to do.”

The knockout stage is looming and that is where their new process and mindset will be tested most, but on Wednesday England have a chance to show they have put the Ashes behind them while in form and riding a wave of positivity – something they are rarely afforded.

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Football

Amorim: Man United players need wins to heal scars of last season

Ruben Amorim has hinted that some of his Manchester United players are still struggling to escape the scars of last season as they go in search of back-to-back Premier League wins at Brentford.

United are yet to win consecutive league games under Amorim.

They have the chance to change the unwanted run when they visit the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday following last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea.

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Another win would be a welcome step forward for Amorim and his players.

And the Portuguese coach has admitted finally winning back-to-back games would help his squad begin to get over the trauma of last season when United lost nearly half their league games and finished 15th.

“I think if we start winning it is not [a question of] 10 wins in a row,” said Amorim.

Ruben Amorim is still working to reverse Manchester United’s fortunes after a disastrous season last term. Carl Recine/Getty Images

“I am talking about the second one, then the third one. The feeling will change and again that is something about the environment that we are living for a while.

“If you look at Bryan [Mbeumo] in that moment when we are struggling you feel a different guy compared to the rest of the team.

“You have to understand that some of the guys are here for a while and that feeling is still here and for that [to change] we need to win games.”

United impressed in spells against Chelsea last weekend and were also praised for their performance against Arsenal on the opening day of the season.

Last season, they beat Manchester City and Arsenal and drew with Liverpool at Anfield.

It’s against the so-called smaller teams that United have struggled most and Amorim has called on his players to treat Brentford as if they were another of the Premier League’s top six.

“The important thing is to do the maximum and to face that game like we faced Liverpool last year because we were struggling, or the way we started the season against Arsenal,” he said.

“We were really excited to start the season. We should have that feeling all the time.

“I think if we as a team, if we don’t understand the momentum now, we have a big problem.

“We need to understand the momentum of the club and the opportunity that we have to win the next game. So it’s on us and the responsibility is on us.”

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