Jon Lewis took over as head coach of England’s women’s cricket team in November, 2022. After a deep and exhausting fight, he has fortunately recently been fired. Famed for his out-of-the-box style, Lewis perpetuated brand-driven aggression, fearlessness, and showness in the public-facing narrative. Even with his tremendous effort, the team faced significant hurdles. Fielding issues were arguably the biggest reason for their surprising disappointment at the T20 World Cup. The abrupt end to Lewis' leadership raises questions about the future direction of England's women's cricket.
With Lewis’ leadership, England’s fielding turned out to be the key aspect needing focus. Expensive missed opportunities in the T20 World Cup exposed the team’s battle to keep the momentum going in important knock out games. Additionally, during the Ashes series, England lost 40 wickets to spin at an average of 12.3 and a strike-rate of just 53.7. These numbers highlighted the burdens this team had to carry while being coached by Lewis.
Lewis has a positive mindset and is adamant he is getting “so close” to beating Australia. Yet fans and media alike have been scratching their heads thinking, “Wait, are they watching the same games?” Clare Connor, the managing director for England women’s cricket, was sympathetic to Lewis’ worries. Indeed, she said they rarely play with the kind of pressure cooker heat like that found in Ashes series or at World Cups. This excuse appeared insufficient given Australia's ability to thrive under pressure, further complicating England's narrative.
The Australia series ended in February. The loss, a humiliating 16-0 defeat, sent the English team reeling under a wave of shock and public outcry for the national squad. The team was under enormous pressure from this result. Instead, it underscored their failures and emboldened a movement to change their approach, and even strategy and leadership.
Lewis' tenure saw its peak during the summer of 2023 when Heather Knight's side mounted an impressive comeback from 6-0 down in the home Ashes to draw 8-8. The 2023 Ashes series attracted record crowds at prominent venues such as Edgbaston, Lord's, and The Oval, demonstrating England's capability to compete with the best teams worldwide.
One of Lewis' infamous remarks about the "Bondi to Coogee" walk hinted at Australia's climate and outdoor lifestyle contributing to their superior athleticism compared to England's. This throwaway comment suddenly became an indictment of the AFC team’s lack of preparation, or athleticism, when compared to their European counterparts.
Lewis qualified an absurd 71% of the time in all formats with his players. These aside, is his success in winning bilateral series all that impressive when he can’t back it up with overall greatness in major tournaments such as the Ashes. The absence of any real success against the best of the best marred what was an otherwise impressive record.
Judgment of the team’s character and culture came under a microscope. That was the case recently when Sophie Ecclestone refused to do a pre-match interview with Channel 7 commentator and ex-England spinner Alex Hartley. This public relations disaster led to an avalanche of negative publicity, unprecedented pressure on the franchise to clean house on and off the field.
With the review of the Ashes defeat still awaiting publication, the future course for England’s women’s cricket team looks uncertain. The need to return to basics and focus on improving on-field performances is evident as they seek to regain their footing in international competition.
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