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Sarah Taylor’s Ashes blog

January 9, 2025
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A few weeks ago wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor joined the England cricket team down in Australia where they look to retain the Women’s Ashes, that begins tomorrow, 10 January.

We caught up with her before their campaign begins to find out what she’s been up to since their victory last summer, and why captain Charlotte Edwards, this time around, might have to play in her shorts…

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So, bit of a shock recently! I was named the ICC Women’s T20 Player of the Year, which was a nice surprise. I’m extremely honoured to get the accolade and it’s lovely to have your achievements recognised by everyone around the world.

After our success in the summer we celebrated hard and then went straight out to the Caribbean. We had to knuckle down pretty quickly but a bit of fitness testing brought us crashing down to earth…

From my own perspective, the West Indies was a tour of two halves. We were missing a couple of key batters in the T20 and I think I put a little too much pressure on myself rather than just enjoying my cricket. But when the ODIs came around I just tried to go out and do what I do best and enjoy it. Actually, my hundred there was probably the opposite of what I do best but, with wickets falling around everywhere, someone had to get stuck in and it was really tough going. It wasn’t until I got back and laid down in the hotel that I realised the significance of it.

My God it was warm out there, too. Although, I suppose Perth, where we’ll be playing the Test match in the Ashes, isn’t going to be too much different!

Whilst my game can suit the T20 format I think the longer one-day innings are what form people’s opinion of you as a cricketer. When it came to that innings I knew I could do it and I didn’t have to play like a T20 cricketer. Having played a lot in the T20 format I think that more resilient aspect of my game disappeared a bit. To develop long-term and with an Ashes Test coming up I’ve got to play those sorts of innings. It was great from that point of view.

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There’s been huge excitement about coming to Australia. We’ve got some new players in the squad and it’s especially exciting for them. People like Katherine Cross and Tash Farrant, who are new to the squad, are good friends of mine, so I know how hard they work away from cricket and it’s fantastic to see them reaping the rewards. They did so well in the West Indies and completely deserve their place.

They’re also not bad to have on tour too. From a team perspective, it’s great to have such strong bowling options. A few years ago we wouldn’t have had that depth and now we’ve got a set who all deserve to get picked! I don’t envy the selectors!

We’re all really looking forward to the chance to have a crack at another Test match, which gets going on 10 January. It was a massive learning curve throughout the team to have to bat that long and bowl longer spells and it can only benefit women’s cricket in general.

To prepare properly we were approaching the Australian conditions head-on and cranked the heaters up at our indoor training centre at Loughborough. Getting used to playing mid-30 degrees heat is tough going. Sometimes I’m grateful for the miserable English weather!

We left England on the 30 DEcember and arrived a day later which gave us a nice New Year in Oz, where we spent the evening congratulating ourselves for arriving! Then it’s been straight into the warm-up games. I don’t think I’ve played on a pitch like the WACA before, so I’m definitely excited about both keeping and batting.

In those conditions the ball should come through nicely. It’s Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole’s job to send it down at phenomenal speed and make sure I’m taking it above my head! Although I may just take a couple of steps forward to make them feel better if it’s not…

Away from the cricket pitch I’ve been having a bash at the driving range. I’m just a beginner but it’s pretty therapeutic to go and whack some balls – especially if you’ve had a bad net. My friend Chloe Rogers, the hockey player, got me into golf but I’m avoiding her at the moment because her handicap’s one!

Studying for my accountancy qualification is a nice switch off in our downtime, too. I’ve got exams coming up and revising for those is a good release. It may sound surprising but with the intensity of a tour it’s quite a nice way to keep grounded.

Our captain Lottie (Charlotte Edwards) went on early to Australia, before Christmas. But her kitbag was lost on the flight! I guess she’ll have to play in her shorts…

Sportsister,
The Women’s Sports Magazine

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