Women’s Ashes 2025: England ‘20% behind Australia’ in everything, says Sir Alastair Cook
Former men’s Test captain Sir Alastair Cook says England’s women are “at least 20 per cent behind Australia”.
Heather Knight’s side were hammered for 90 in the third and final T20 at Adelaide, the latest humiliation in a punishing Women’s Ashes tour that means they are beaten for six Still no victory after three white-ball games.
Australia now lead the series 12-0 with four points from the one-off Test, a multi-format contest on January 30.
There hasn’t been a 16-0 clean sweep in a multi-format series since 2013.
“This series shows the reality of both sides,” Cook said on TNT Sports.
“But when you go down to 5-0 or a clean sweep, the best thing is you’re on the bottom and the only way is up there.
“Ultimately, England were 20 per cent behind Australia in everything – batting, bowling, fielding, athleticism etc.”
Cook, who led England in a winless Ashes series in 2013-14, said clarity and honest reflection were the only ways to recover from “doom and gloom”.
Both the Cavaliers and head coach Jon Lewis have come under huge scrutiny for repeatedly insisting the gap between the two sides isn’t as big as the score line.
It’s a disappointing drop in England’s competitiveness considering they won the white-ball series at home in 2023, and Cook added that it would take at least two to three years to catch Australia again.
Cook added: “You reach a point where you mope, quit, or go again.”
“We lost 5-0 and then won the Ashes 18 months later so it’s possible but if you’re not honest then you’re not going to get anywhere.
“So they had an exciting Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but then you look at the reality of yourself as a side, the system, how do we use that to get better?”
