"We're Going to Imagine It's Nil-Nil" – Bell Wants England to Forget First ODI Blues

England aims for a fresh start after dropping the first game of their Ashes battle against Australia on Sunday. With the Women’s Ashes series in full swing, the team focuses on a reset ahead of the next ODI.

England’s First ODI Setback

In the opening match at North Sydney Oval, England defended a below-par total of 204. They were bowled out in 44 overs due to poor shot selection and some brilliant Australian bowling, particularly from Ashleigh Gardner, who claimed figures of 3 for 19. 

Despite some valiant efforts, including an impressive opening spell by Lauren Bell, England fell short by four wickets, with Gardner and Alyssa Healy leading the chase. Australia mowed down the bulk of the target with 67 balls to spare.

However, the England seamer, Bell, was one of the standout performers with the ball. She finished her nine overs with figures of 1 for 25, and she believed that England deserved “a lot of credit” for making Australia’s chase more challenging than expected. 

Bell noted that the match could have been even closer had England not dropped a few crucial catches. For more updates on the Women’s Ashes and other cricket news, check out bpexch for real-time insights and analysis.

Missed Opportunities

The game had key moments where England’s fielding let them down. Alice Capsey dropped Ellyse Perry off the bowling of Lauren Filer, though Bell was quick to dismiss Perry shortly after. 

Sophie Ecclestone also made a bizarre fumble when Gardner was on 31, with Australia needing just 22 more runs to win with six wickets down.

“We got 200 on a pitch that I think the par score batting first was about 250, so putting in an effort to almost defend that was, I think you can take a lot of confidence from it,” Bell said. 

Despite the loss, she believed the team could take positives from their performance and refocus for the upcoming matches.

Bell’s Perspective on England’s Performance

Reflecting on the game, Bell stated, “There are a few things that we could definitely work on moving forward. Obviously, Australia caught very well, and we dropped a few at important moments. 

Moving forward, there’s a few places we can work on and really focus on the next game.” While England didn’t get the desired result, Bell felt the team could draw confidence from their resilience, especially under challenging circumstances.

Filer started England’s defense well by taking the early wicket of Phoebe Litchfield for just 4. She also claimed the in-form Annabel Sutherland, finishing with figures of 2 for 58 from eight overs. 

Ecclestone accounted for the key wickets of Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath, ending with 2 for 38. However, England will need a more complete performance if they hope to bounce back in Tuesday's second ODI at Junction Oval.

“Nil-Nil” Mentality for the Next ODI

Bell is confident that England can bounce back and emphasizes the importance of resetting mentally before the next match. 

“We're one game into a pretty long series and we're two-nil down, but we're going to have to start the next game and imagine it's nil-nil and go again,” she said.

She also highlighted that this is the beauty of the series – there’s always room for recovery. “We can come back, and we're just going to have to reset, go with our plan, and just go again.”

Bell added that the team would review the first ODI, focusing on improving their batting. “Our batting group will get together, and it will obviously be different conditions over in Melbourne, so we’ll have to adjust to them. 

But we’ll get together as a group and work out the little bits we can tidy up and hopefully put on a better performance.”

Quick Adjustments and Adaptation

The tight turnaround between matches is a common theme in this Ashes series, consisting of three ODIs, followed by three T20Is and a four-day Test match in 22 days. Bell noted that adjustments would need to be made quickly in such a compressed schedule.

“It's definitely tough,” she said. “We’re just going to have to adapt really quickly, communicate with the girls that maybe have played at Junction Oval and try and get as much information as we can about the pitch. 

Then the opening batters, if we bat first, or the opening bowlers, it’s just really important to communicate what the pitch is doing as soon as we get there.”

Bell’s Determination to Stand Firm

One notable moment from the first ODI was Bell’s determination to stand firm when she felt she had trapped Ellyse Perry in front. 

England had already burned their first review earlier in the match, but Bell convinced captain Heather Knight and wicketkeeper Amy Jones to use their remaining evaluation. DRS confirmed the decision was correct, and Bell was thrilled with her persistence.

“I was obviously really happy to get her, and I had to stand my ground a little bit and tell Heather and Amy that I thought it was out,” Bell said. “It was two v one. 

I really, really thought it was out. Heather and Amy weren't sure, and I didn’t want to be the one to lose our last review, but yeah, I’m really glad I stood firm.”

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Looking Ahead

While England’s batting performance was below par, with Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge top-scoring with 39 and 38, Bell remains optimistic. The team must find a way to combat Healy’s brilliant innings of 70 from 78 balls in the second ODI and improve their overall performance. 

Bell and the team know that they will need to stay resolute and firm if they are to overturn the deficit in this campaign. With the series continuing, England’s resilience and determination will be key to their hopes of returning. 

The tight schedule and constant adjustments will test the team’s mental and physical strength, but with players like Bell leading by example, England will continue to fight for their place in the Ashes.