England clinched series 2-1, with four-wicket win in final T20I...
Monday 4 December 2017 17:39, UK
Nick Knight says there is still room for improvement in the England Women side despite winning their ODI and T20I series' in South Africa 2-1.
Nick Knight says there is still room for improvement in the England Women side despite winning their ODI and T20I series' in South Africa 2-1.
Sarah Taylor struck her third straight fifty as England triumphed in the final T20I in Johannesburg, chasing down 132 inside 16 overs to win by four wickets.
It was new coach Mark Robinson's first tour in charge of the side and Knight thinks he still needs time to stamp his new approach on the team.
"I don't think Robinson's quite sure yet how good this side can be," said Knight. "He is trying to make changes, that is clear from the team's approach to today's run-chase.
"He is trying to push them to targets they haven't reached before, express themselves in a way they haven't done before.
"With that will come the odd blip, like we saw at the end [England lost four wickets for 28 runs] but we will just have to tolerate that.
"The challenge for him is he is learning about some of these players for the first time, he met one or two for the first time when he flew out here.
"He'll work closely with captain Charlotte Edwards, and with that he will gain a better understanding of the team he has got. He knows though that it's a very talented group.
"Taylor is a prime example. She has been a high-class player for a long period of time, but sometimes playing in such a successful way, it's easy to sit back and say 'I'm doing alright here', and pick up the plaudits. Robinson is saying 'even you can be better'.
"They go into the World T20 in India next month with their chances of winning high. They're either the best side in the world, or one of the best two, up there with Australia.
"From what we have seen in this series, perhaps that gap is getting a little bit smaller - South Africa have improved considerably since the last time I saw them - but England will be very disappointed if they don't at least make the final."
Watch highlights of today's match at 4.30pm on Sky Sports 2, then join us for live coverage of the ICC Women's World T20 live on Sky Sports in March.
