Belief back as England brace for their biggest game since 2017

Edwards posed the question – at the start of the year she challenged England's youngsters to push for places – but did not panic.

Twelve of this year's squad played in 2024. The same cricketers are playing better now.

But for all of England's promise, Australia will arrive on Sunday as favourites.

The 16-0 Ashes win was only 18 months ago and while England have won all of the World Cups held in this country, more relevant is Australia's dominance in the biggest matches.

England have not beaten Australia in any of their five World Cup knockout meetings since the World T20 semi-final in 2009, when their spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman was one year old.

Edwards was captain that day, as she was for England's last Ashes win in 2014.

And the Australians, who have played 10 World Cup finals since 2000 and lost only one, are not relying purely on the weight of history to carry them to a seventh T20 World Cup.

The great Ellyse Perry, who appears to be winning her race to be fit, said Edwards would "not allow" England to be beaten before taking the field.

"We actually haven't mentioned the Ashes too much," captain Sophie Molineux said.

"We've probably looked at a little bit of footage used from the Ashes, but different conditions - and they were playing a different style of cricket."

Sciver-Brunt was similarly dismissive, though her words pointed to England's improved mood.

"The personnel we have now is quite different – maybe not in who they are, but where we are as a side and what we've worked on," Sciver-Brunt said.

"The feeling around the group is very different from that Ashes trip. I'm sure a lot of people have tried to forget how we felt.

"But we knew we needed to move forward and learn from that trip. A lot of hard work needed to be done and where we've got to now."

It means talk of the Ashes can wait, until the urn is next up for grabs on these shores in 2027.

Sunday, with Lord's sold out again, will be an epic occasion in its own right.

That Sunday in 2017 was all about showing the growth of the women's game in front of the world, but we are beyond that now.

Fifa's U-turn on Saturday morning means an enticing contest will get the spotlight it deserves rather than being pitched against the football.

For England it could kick-start the Edwards era and give her a moment at cricket's home she deserves more than anyone else.

Perhaps just as important, after the Ashes and everything that followed, win or lose, England are team to believe in again.