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The biggest positive England could take from the ODI series was their bowling efforts. Young seamers Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer have stood up admirably in the absence of the experienced Kate Cross, who has a back injury.
Australia lost six wickets while chasing just 204 in the first match. They were then dismissed for 180 in match two, and slipped to 59-4 in the third game before a sensational middle-order rescue.
That suggests Australia’s top order is vulnerable, and in the T20s England must look to spin as their biggest weapon and bring in Sarah Glenn’s leg-spin to complement Sophie Ecclestone’s left-arm deliveries and Charlie Dean’s off-breaks.
Since the beginning of 2024, Australia’s spinners have taken 53 wickets in 17 T20 matches at an average of 18.4, while their England counterparts have taken 87 in 22 at 16.7. Only Sri Lanka, with 92, have taken more wickets with spin in that time.
Unusually for a series in Australia, this could ultimately be decided by who boasts the best spin attack as facing the turning ball is also England’s notable weakness with the bat.
During the 2023 series, England lost 23 wickets to Ash Gardner alone, and in the ODIs here they have given up 17 wickets to spin, being particularly troubled against leg-spinners.
Alana King and Georgia Wareham have taken 13 wickets at a combined average of just 10.2.
But King, who proved a particular thorn in England’s side with 4-25 and 5-46 in the final two ODIs, is not in the T20 squad and that could prove significant.