Claire Taylor has been hailed as the best batswoman in a golden age for English women’s cricket, but she would happily exchange the plaudits for her England team retaining the Ashes in Australia.

‘The style of cricket the England men were playing at the start of their tour – that’s what we’re striving for, too,’ she says. ‘It was inspirational. We won’t have an easy time of it because the Australian women are very competitive. ‘We’re evenly matched, but if both [England] sides can bring back the Ashes, it would be amazing.’