Greenway talks up Ashes prospects

Lydia Greenway feels England have "a good mix of youth and experience" in their squad as they prepare to face Australia

Lydia Greenway believes England women have the tools at their disposal to succeed on their tour of Australia.

Greenway is part of a 15-strong party that arrived in Perth today to play three one-day internationals, five Twenty20 matches and a four-day Test - the latter for the women’s Ashes, which the tourists hold.

The squad is boosted by the return of experienced performers Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin and Beth Morgan, while youngsters Susie Rowe and Fran Wilson have kept their places after impressing on the recent tour to Sri Lanka.

England recorded a memorable victory in their last Test in Australia nearly three years ago and Greenway, who featured in that match, feels the current side are capable of emulating that feat.

“It’s a bit of a cliché but we have got a good mix of youth and experience,” the 25-year-old told ecb.co.uk.

“Quite a few of the girls played out there last time and we also have the younger ones who have come in and showed that they are happy to play without fear.

“Another important factor is that we have got a good team spirit at the moment which can help you win games.

“Everyone is very excited; we’re just keen to get out there now and start playing.”

Greenway feels England will benefit from their recent experiences in Sri Lanka, where they remained unbeaten against an improving side.

“It was nice for us to put ourselves in game situations under a bit of pressure and the Sri Lankans have really come on,” Greenway added.

“Just to get some overs and runs under our belts, it was definitely beneficial for us.

England women will play Australia immediately before their male counterparts do in a Twenty20 match at the MCG on January 14

“I probably didn’t perform as well as I would have liked personally, but it was nice to play out there and try and adapt to the conditions.”

Although the battle for the Ashes will be the focal point of England’s trip Down Under, Greenway insists the limited-overs matches will be treated with equal importance.

The first two Twenty20s are expected to attract a particularly large audience, as they will be played directly before the England men’s team face Australia on January 12 and 14.

Greenway continued: “The Ashes is a huge thing for us with the publicity and all of that, but with women’s cricket I think it’s heading towards more Twenty20 matches.

“It gets bigger audiences and we’re playing before the men as a curtain-raiser at the MCG and Adelaide Oval so it’s hugely important for us and women’s cricket that we put on a good show.

“Last time we were out there we did a similar thing and played before the men, but it wasn’t the England men’s team, so hopefully this time around we might get a few Barmy Army supporters coming to watch us.”

Greenway has also played down fears that England may find it difficult to adjust to the longest form of the game, having not played a Test since last year’s draw against Australia at New Road.

“It’s something we’ll definitely be able to cope with,” she said. “We’ve got a few good training sessions before the Test match actually starts, so it gives us time to get our heads around the fact that we are playing a different format.

“I think it’s going to be a tight series and it will be down to who performs well under pressure. I just want to do all I can to help us win.”