The England team has been boosted by the return of veteran speedster Kate Cross for the three-match ODI series against India. She, along with Alice Davidson-Richards and Emma Lamb, missed the previous five-match T20I series between the two nations, which India won 3-2.
In the Twenty20 Internationals, England’s two victories came down to the final ball. Cross believes that the hosts’ ability to maintain composure under duress and secure close victories are strengths they hope to carry into the ODI series.
“We won some incredibly important moments under pressure, as well as two very close games. That’s something we talk about in this group, how we might not always win those times, so those were two significant positives,” Cross was reported as adding.
Cross also suggested that England could have won the fifth T20I considerably earlier. The Tammy Beaumont-led side eventually won on the final ball, chasing down a 168-run goal with five wickets to spare.
“If we had been in such a strong position to win the Edgbaston game and then lost it, a lot more questions would have been raised. We won, which was amazing, but we also don’t want to be in such positions. “We want to try to kill games sooner,” she explained.
“Every cricketer that you talk to will be trying to do that, but mistakes are made along the way and pressure is put on you as a cricketer and teams are allowed to bowl well and bat well and take spectacular catches in the deep that change the momentum of the game,” according to her.
Kate Cross wants England to remain calm under stressful times.
Cross believes England handled the pressure well in the fifth T20I. The 33-year-old believes that these victories would help them in major tournaments such the World Cups, the Ashes, and the ODI series against India.
“It certainly looked like we’ve looked calmer under pressure on Saturday, which is the sign of a team that’s moving in the right direction. The calmer we can be under those pressure moments, then the better we’ll be in those huge moments in World Cups and Ashes series and going down to the wire against India in a three-match one-day series,” Cross opined.
The first ODI in the three-match series between India and England is set to be played at The Rose Bowl on Wednesday, July 16.
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