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England captain Heather Knight has acknowledged the criticism her team has received during the Ashes series, saying it is “completely fair.” England has struggled throughout the tour, facing criticism for their fitness, professionalism, and overall performance. As the series nears its end, Knight and her team are determined to use the criticism as motivation for the final Test match.
Alastair Cook’s Criticism and Knight’s Response
Former England captain Alastair Cook recently said that England is “20 percent behind” Australia in all areas, including batting, bowling, fielding, and athleticism. He added that closing this gap would take years of hard work. Knight agreed with Cook’s comments,saying that the team’s results have invited the level of scrutiny they are facing. Despite the pressure, she emphasized that the team is focused on turning things around. “It’s our job to turn things around and have some success this week,” Knight said. 
Knight explained that some players handle criticism differently, with some ignoring it and others using it to improve. She herself finds motivation in proving herself under pressure, and she’s focused on performing well in the final match. “I am probably someone that is at my best when I have got a bit of a point to prove,” she added.
A Strong Finish to a Tough Tour
England is currently down 12-0 in the Ashes series, and a historic whitewash is a real possibility. Despite this, Knight is determined to end the series on a positive note. She said that the team is “hurting” from the tough tour but sees the final Test as an opportunity to showcase their skills and character. “We haven’t played our best cricket at all as a side,” she said. “The next four days is a chance to do that.”
Knight emphasized that the team is ready to give everything they have in the final match. “We’re obviously hurting from quite a tough tour to this point,” she said. “We’re seeing this as a one-off Test match, to show exactly what we can do and fight really hard to perform well.”
