Women's Ashes: Sophie Ecclestone tells England youngsters 'back yourselves against Australia'

Sophie Ecclestone has urged England's younger players to back themselves against Australia despite their underdog status for the Women's Ashes series - which begins live on Sky Sports this Thursday.

Australia have held the Ashes since 2015 and have won the last two editions 12-4 on points, while they are also the reigning world champions in both the 50-over and 20-over formats of the game.

Despite being just 24 years old, Ecclestone will be one of the oldest players in a young England bowling line-up that includes Issy Wong, Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer.

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Seam bowler Filer, 22, has been a regular in the Western Storm side over recent seasons and has earned her first full call-up.

Asked on Sky Sports News what advice she will give her younger team-mates, Ecclestone said: "Just enjoy it. Enjoy the challenge. If you get a wicket, celebrate it hard and back yourself."

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Sticking to the basics

A record-breaking crowd is set to descend on Trent Bridge for the Women's Ashes Test match on Thursday - with over 11,000 tickets already sold.

Ecclestone knows red-ball cricket requires a different mindset to the limited-overs formats and wants to keep things simple.

"I've just got to do my basics for longer. For me, it's making sure I don't get bored before the batter does. Every time Heather [Knight] comes up to me she always says 'bowl your best ball, bowl your best ball'. So keep it simple and do the basics for longer," she explained.

"Heather will give the ball to me in pressure situations. Sometimes I will get frustrated when I'm not able to do what she wants but I love being in pressure situations and hopefully I can take some wickets for her."

Ecclestone: England are underdogs

Tammy Beaumont says England will try to play aggressively but concedes they are the underdogs, which Ecclestone agrees with.

"The Ashes is always so exciting. Australia are a great team and a force to be reckoned with. I think we are going there as underdogs so it's really exciting for us to put up a fight against them.

"It's always a great battle when we play against them. They are the best team in the world for a reason, they have some great players but hopefully we can challenge them."

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Cross: We prioritised my health

England veteran Kate Cross could also be a key part of the side's bowling line-up.

Suffering from the intestinal infection Giardiasis since March, Cross's Ashes preparation has been complicated. After a 10th round of antibiotics she was able to play in last week's warm-up match against Australia A, bowling 18 overs.

"I'm the kind of bowler that likes rhythm and long spells. Not just the last game that we played last week against the As, but the last three weeks of prep have actually been brilliant," said Cross.

"I think I've probably learned a lot about myself in that I've got a lot of cricket under my belt and you don't always have to tick all the boxes to feel good."

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With Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Sciver-Brunt now retired, Cross is likely to open the bowling if, as expected, she plays her seventh Test at Trent Bridge. Cross could even be responsible for sending down the first ball of the series.

"That's actually scared me a little bit, to be honest, because there were times where I didn't know if I'd be well enough to be thinking about playing Ashes cricket," she added.

"We always prioritised my health before we prioritised thinking about that first ball. But when you're a kid in the back garden playing Ashes cricket with your brother and your sister, you always think about those moments.

"It would be a really proud moment if I got to take the new ball, especially if my parents and family are there to watch it as well."

Injury rules Tash Farrant out of Ashes

England bowler Tash Farrant's hopes of playing in the Women's Ashes this summer are over due to a cruel reoccurrence of a stress fracture of her lumbar spine.

Farrant, who has featured in six ODIs and 18 T20s for England, initially suffered the injury to her lower back in May last year and returned to domestic action in April.

But Farrant has suffered a major setback in the last couple of weeks and faces an operation, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced in a brief statement.

As well as shelving any international ambitions this summer, the South East Stars and Oval Invincibles left-armer will miss the rest of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and The Hundred.

Women's Ashes schedule (all games live on Sky Sports)

• Test match (Trent Bridge) - Thursday June 22 - Monday June 26 (11am start)
• First T20 international (Edgbaston) - Saturday July 1 (6.35pm start)
• Second T20 international (The Kia Oval) - Wednesday July 5 (6.35pm start)
• Third T20 international (Lord's) - Saturday July 8 (6.35pm start)
• First one-day international (Unique Stadium, Bristol) - Wednesday, July 12 (1pm start)
• Second one-day international (The Ageas Bowl) - Sunday July 16 (11am start)
• Third one-day international (Taunton) - Tuesday July 18 (1pm start)

How does the scoring system work for the Women's Ashes?

The winners of the Test match earn four points, with the teams taking two points each in the event of a draw. Two points are awarded for victories in each of the white-ball games, with sides picking up a point apiece in the event of a tie or no result.

Watch the Women's Ashes live on Sky Sports Cricket from this Thursday. Coverage of the Test match, at Trent Bridge, begins at 10am ahead of the first ball at 11am.