Australia all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner is aware of the “threat” posed by leading left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone during the Women’s World Cup final against England here on Sunday.
The two heavyweights will face off for the top prize at the Hagley Oval and Ecclestone will enter the summit showdown as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 20 scalps at an excellent average of 12.5 and an economy rate of under four.
“She’s the No.1 bowler for a reason. She’s a fantastic left-arm off-spinner and she’s quite a tall bowler so she gets a lot more bounce,” Gardner said on Friday.
After conceding 77 runs off her 10 overs in England’s 12-run defeat to Australia in the group stage, the left-arm spinner has been instrumental in the team’s remarkable turnaround, claiming 20 wickets at an average of 12.85, including a career-best 6/36 against South Africa in the semi-finals.
Gardner added, “On spin-friendly wickets, she can get the odd one to turn as well. She’s certainly a bowler we see as a threat. That’s someone that we don’t want to just give wickets to.”
Ecclestone, meanwhile, has said that England are capable of beating the mighty Australia on their day. “I really believe in this group and on our day we can definitely beat the Aussies - we’ve got a great chance.
“I know if we play our best cricket and our batters bat the way they can and the bowlers bowl the way they can, we can just focus on ourselves and do the best we can,” she said.
Recalling England’s horror start to the tournament, the 22-year-old said, “I think when we lost three from three, there were a few tears in the changing room after the game.
“I think the turning point was having a few meetings to just say that we had nothing to lose now.”