After five heartbreaking exits, Shrubsole is determined to be playing in the MCG final on International Women’s Day
In 2009 a back injury forced the then-17-year-old Anya Shrubsole out of the World Twenty20. She had already been part of one World Cup-winning team – England having come back from Australia that March as champions in the 50-over format – but she was forced to watch from the sidelines as the team, as hosts, took a second title of the year. She has not missed a World Twenty20 since but England have not won again.
Though in 2010 West Indies could claim joint responsibility, Australia have knocked England out of every World Twenty20 since the very first, beating them in three finals and a semi-final. Across the 37 Twenty20 internationals the two countries have played over the past 15 years England have an 18-17 advantage, yet when it really matters results have been, from an English perspective, depressingly predictable. At the 2012 event the teams met twice: once in the group stage with both teams already qualified, and again in the final. No prizes for guessing which of those games stands as England’s only victory against Australia at the World Twenty20 since the 2009 semi-finals.
Related: Shafali Verma: the teenage sensation aiming to fire India to Twenty20 glory
Related: England in the running to upset Australia in Women’s T20 World Cup
Continue reading...