Wicketkeeper Amy Jones believes securing a place in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals is a “big callback” for England after a shaky start to the tournament.
England lost their first three group stage matches, casting doubt on their chances of progress. However, they managed to string together four straight wins, cementing their place in the semi-finals by beating Bangladesh by 100 runs.
After the turnaround England produced, Jones was full of praise for how the team pulled together early on.
After the first two losses, every game was a game to be won and obviously, there were times when it was very tricky and quite low,” Jones said.
“So to then get the winning streak that we desperately needed and then qualify feels like a feat in itself and a big callback and a new game.
“It was really important to stay together at that time. When you’re going through a losing streak, it’s easy to isolate yourself and not do the things you normally do and hang out with each other and check on each other.
“It was really important that we got together, spent time together and just tried to stay positive and maintain the confidence of the team and also do what we individually had to do to maintain the confidence.
England have faced South Africa before at this World Cup, a defeat in which Jones scored 53 runs and enjoyed her time behind the stumps and she admits she has more confidence against a team against which she has done well before.
Reflecting on her previous performance against South Africa, where England lost by three wickets, she said: “I think it’s always nice to play against a team you’ve done well against in the past.”
Amy Jones praised her England teammate Sophie Ecclestone ahead of their semi-final clash against South Africa.
Ecclestone took a wicket last time out against the Proteas, with Jones claiming the catch. The Warwickshire wicketkeeper admitted that she sometimes finds the spin bowler a challenge, but likes when she gets close to the stumps.