The Albany Gazette - Dean says Australia final a 'fresh start' for England

Australia inflicted a humiliating 16-0 whitewash upon England in the multi-format Ashes when the teams last met 18 months ago.

And they will be favourites to claim a record-extending seventh T20 crown this weekend, having been dethroned as champions by New Zealand two years ago.

Australia have won all six of their games to reach Sunday's finale, including an eight-wicket semi-final thrashing of the West Indies.

But England are unbeaten too, putting recent semi-final defeats by South Africa behind them with a 40-run rout of the Proteas at the Oval on Thursday, a match where captain Nat Sciver-Brunt marked her return from injury with a superb 75 after a top-order collapse.

England are now just one game away from winning their first major title since their 50-over World Cup triumph nine years ago.

"We've not played them (Australia) in a year or so," said Dean, 25, who as vice-captain deputised as skipper when Sciver-Brunt was sidelined by a calf problem.

"It feels like a fresh start for us a little bit. But we know how brilliant they are as a side, they’ve dominated the games they've played in, too.

"They're a very skilful team and we know we need to produce our best cricket to beat them. In a final, it's whoever rocks up and plays the best cricket. It doesn't matter what's happened before that."

Dean, who made her international debut in 2021, added: "I feel like it is the most confident I’ve personally been in an England shirt and I feel like that radiates from everyone else as well."

- 'Sparkly jacket' -

Two years ago, England dropped five catches against the West Indies as they crashed out in the group stages in Dubai and last year's Ashes reverse in Australia was littered with more fielding errors.

While England put down six chances in a group-stage win over the West Indies, there has been a significant improvement in their out-cricket at this tournament, with Sophie Ecclestone leading an impressive team effort against South Africa thanks to two fine catches.

Dean paid tribute to the unusual methods of England fielding coach Nick Wilton, a former Sussex wicket-keeper, to prepare the team for playing under floodlights.

"He borrows his wife's glittery, sparkly jacket," Dean said. "We do pieces of fielding to each song that he has on and he pumps the music up to try to get us all really hyped up.

"I love the way he goes about getting us really passionate about fielding and doing different things so that it’s fun every time."

She added: "We're getting into that space where we really want to show off with our fielding. There's that air of confidence about us now which has really grown over the last year."

(B.Smith--TAG)