Heather Knight says England want to inspire in Ashes series with Australia

Vice-captain Heather Knight insists England’s cricketers are ready to play their part to inspire the nation when they take centre stage for the start of the Women’s Ashes against Australia.

The multi-format Women’s Ashes begins at Taunton on Tuesday, with the first of three one-day internationals, followed by a Test match next month and three Twenty20 internationals.

A glorious summer so far has seen international success for British sportswomen in a number of sports including rugby, tennis, hockey and athletics.

England’s women footballers generated huge interest after their World Cup heroics in Canada and Knight hopes the cricketers can build on that and capture the imagination of the public.

“As a team we have really noticed the buzz around women’s sport at the moment and it’s just great to be involved in,” Knight told Sky Sports.

Live Women's International Cricket

“It’s been great watching the England women do so well and seeing the public get behind them. Hopefully, that will also happen in our series as well and the public will come out and support us, watch us on TV and really get inspired and enjoy the cricket we play.

“It’s up to us now to go and show what we can do on the pitch and give everyone the chance to see what we can do. Hopefully they will enjoy it and keep on supporting us.

“But I think this is the most interest I have ever seen, both in terms of a home series and an Ashes series. It's going to be an amazing series to be involved in and of course every ball is live on Sky, which is a great platform for us as a team to show off our skills and showcase what we can do.

“Hopefully we can be successful and continue the great buzz around women's sport at the moment and help get more girls playing the game.”

England have claimed the last two Ashes series but lost to eventual winners Australia in the Super Sixes stage of the 2013 Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.

Australia also beat England in the final of the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh last year, but Knight says her side can use those defeats to their advantage in the forthcoming Ashes series.

“We know this will be a seriously tough series and we know the Aussies will be coming for us,” Knight said.

“Obviously we've won the last two Ashes series and they’ve got the better of us in the last two World Cups, so we know it will be tough but hopefully it will be very exciting.

“We're two very evenly-matched teams and we've had some great battles over the last two years. I hope being on home soil will give us an advantage but either way it's going to be a great series and hopefully we can come out on top.

“As a cricketer quite often what motivates you is your failures and looking back at World Cups where we haven’t quite made it over the line - losing in the final in Bangladesh for example – that is something we use as a motivation to win a series like this.”

As an experienced member of the squad, Knight is enjoying her role as vice-captain but the 24-year-old insists each player in this England team is a leader in their own right.

“My role is just about being ready and helping (captain) Charlotte Edwards whenever she needs it,” Knight said.

“We talk about 11 leaders on the pitch and one captain, so I think all the girls are leaders in their own right. Now it’s up to us to stand up on the pitch and take responsibility and win those games of cricket.”

Watch every ball of this summer's Women's Ashes live and exclusive on Sky Sports.