As a cricketer with 23 caps in opposition to Australia, Lauren Winfield-Hill stays positive of 1 factor. They have flaws to take advantage of.

It is one thing she and her England team-mates have seen first-hand. The subject, nevertheless, has been an lack of ability to take benefit when these flaws have offered themselves. Something should change to make sure the upcoming girls's Ashes don't play to sort.

Australia have triumphed in three out of the final 4 collection, and arrive as defending World Champions in each ODI and T20I codecs. Winfield-Hill herself has solely tasted success in 4 of these 23 matches in opposition to them.

The vacationers are undoubtedly favourites going into the multi-format collection, which begins with a five-day Test match at Trent Bridge on June 22. The key for Winfield-Hill, nevertheless, is to make sure England method the collection with none baggage. Only then can England take the stress moments that current themselves inside video games, one thing they've typically didn't do previously.

"There's absolutely nowhere to hide," stated Winfield-Hill. "An Ashes series is the toughest thing you will ever play.

"I feel the assumption now we have to attach with, and the factor now we have to do higher, is after they're a collective and we're a collective is to have a bit bit extra perception, get within the dogfight a bit bit extra. Probably the largest distinction previously shouldn't be essentially being abilities, it is in all probability cricket smarts.

"But I think it's probably playing the game situation more logically and riding those high-pressure moments better than we have done in the past because when you look at previous Ashes series, they've just held on that little bit longer and then the pressure will subside and you get a window. Whereas we've potentially not held onto that and cracked too early and then the floodgates open.

"They have flaws as properly. We've seen after they've been put below stress in finals they've proven the identical weaknesses should you can match them for lengthy sufficient. It's relentless."

"You want stability," said Winfield-Hill. "A superb altering room atmosphere has good stability between senior gamers and youth. I feel that may be a actually large factor, to have sufficient gamers that do not have battle scars, stepping into with that naivety that it's simply cricket, there is no such thing as a historical past as a result of they have not performed within the Ashes earlier than.

"It's a good thing, to be open-minded. They know what to expect because they have watched it, but it's different being out there. I think that's a strength of the squad. You can't hide, there are scars. We have had some really tough Ashes series in the past. You need youngsters to go in and give it a red hot crack because they don't have that history."

As for her personal position this summer time, the 32-year-old is extra comfortable. She expects to play some half, probably within the three T20s sandwiched between the Test match and the three ODIs.

Winfield-Hill was a part of the squad which travelled to South Africa for the T20 World Cup in February, though her final appearances for England had been in 4 of the 5 T20Is on the tour of West Indies on the finish of 2022 and she or he shouldn't be an England contracted participant.

Following her stint for Oval Invincibles within the Hundred over the past English summer time, she went on to play within the Big Bash League for Melbourne Stars, PSL and FairBreak Invitational event. That allowed her to proceed testing herself in opposition to high-level opposition whereas her worldwide appearances had been restricted. Without these competitions, she feels she wouldn't have been in a position to regain her place within the England squad after being dropped halfway by the 50-over World Cup early final 12 months.

"Without the game growing in a franchise space I'd be long gone probably," Winfield-Hill stated. "But because I had the opportunity to go and play in different competitions, I managed to just keep my foot in the door and they're obviously seen as well-respected competitions. If you score some decent runs in that you're obviously in a very good space."

Regarding for her position now, she senses a degree of responsibility in the case of England, who will identify their Ashes squad subsequent week. While she is specializing in getting the most effective out of herself, she acknowledges her standing as a senior participant and is aware of the significance of embracing it for the remainder of the group.

"It's a fine line really because I'm not a constant in that England set-up, I'm not a contracted player anymore so it's just striking that balance.

"The children, their job is to play, flourish and study on the job actually. I feel the best way I attempt to do it's simply the best way I'm by way of how I function, how I talk. I take pleasure in serving to the children on their means and I feel plenty of the time it is not one thing that must be compelled on you - you are a senior participant so it's a must to be somebody to look as much as.

"You spend a lot of your career being really selfish and just wanting to punch out performances, don't you? And you're very tunnel vision in terms of 'I need a score' and I think something that's enabled me to play as well as I have the last couple of years is letting go of that. I'm still very ambitious, I still have lots of desire to keep playing for a long time but I have probably taken the pressure off myself. In terms of going into other environments as well, you can't just go in and be focused on yourself and your own job.

"You need to get across the new crew, meet new folks and assist children. I feel that is been actually good for me. I've performed in fairly a couple of groups - I maintain pondering it is the groups nevertheless it's me getting previous - the place I'm pondering there are a great deal of children the place really I'm the frequent denominator right here."

Vithushan Ehantharajah is an affiliate editor at ESPNcricinfo