“We’ve come here to win Ashes”: Australia allrounder Alana King

Southampton [UK], July 17 (ANI): Player of the Match Alana King shared a message that the Australian team is competing to win the Ashes series not retain it after guiding her team to retain the Ashes series against England in the second ODI on Sunday.

Australia secured a three-run victory over England in the second ODI to retain the Women’s Ashes series with a game to spare. The result gave Australia an 8-6 lead in the multi-format series ahead of the final ODI at Taunton on Tuesday.

Ellyse Perry’s knock of 91 runs followed by Ashleigh Gardner and Alana King’s three-wicket hauls played a crucial role in their nail-biting three-run victory.

The nail-biting win, by three runs, broke Australia’s three-game losing streak in the Ashess 2023 series.

After retaining the series, King made it clear that they are not willing to settle by just retaining their title.

“We’ve come here to win the Ashes. No one really wanted to retain it but it’s great that we’ve ticked that box. If we win the Ashes that will be a job done for us and I think we keep stretching that. Yes, we want people to come with us but also we don’t want them to get too close. We want to still be ahead in world cricket and hopefully, we can keep showing that,” King said after the match as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

King hadn’t played for the Australian team since featuring in the Test. But she returned to the squad with a remarkable performance. She removed Beaumont with her leg break for 60(62).

“When the opportunity came, I am glad that I could take it. You got to control the controllable, I can’t control if I am selected or not but I got to be the best team-mate around and make sure that they are up and about. I can do all my work behind the scenes and work with our spin coach,” King added.