Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins has one simple message for English goalkeeper Mary Earps ahead of the blockbuster World Cup semi-final between the long-time sporting foes.
“Play by the rules,” he joked, encouraging Earps to stay on her line after English cricketer Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped when he left his crease during the recent Ashes series in the UK.
The semi-final in Sydney promises to be one of the biggest sporting spectacles ever seen in Australia, with the locals hoping to continue their recent run of dominance over England that includes retaining the men’s and women’s Ashes and beating them in the netball World Cup final earlier this month.
Veteran Australian opener David Warner also cast an early shot over the English bow, declaring the Matildas should be on watch for anyone asking to “change the ball”, referencing the fifth Test shambles during the Ashes when an old ball was replaced with a relatively new one for the home team’s attack to use.
“An early good luck to the @TheMatildas,” Warner posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Just keep an eye out in case the Poms ask to change the ball.”
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Cummins was in the air when the Matildas beat France in a thrilling penalty shootout but that didn’t stop him from watching the quarter-final.
He said the rivalry between the two nations can define you as an athlete and this tournament has brought the entire country together.
“There’s nothing more satisfying as an Aussie than getting one over your English mates,” Cummins said.
“It’s really special. It’s not just on the field. We’ve all got English mates over there, so it’s also about the battles you see on social media and people texting all their friends.
“In terms of my career, it’s as strong as I can remember. People go on Instagram or Facebook or WhatsApp and they seem to be pestering English or Aussie mates all the time. It seems like the banter is at all-time high levels that I’ve ever experienced.
“I’d just tell them (the players) to go out there and enjoy it.
“It’s going to be a packed house with millions of people watching – it’s why you started playing any sport as a kid because you wanted those moments, so I’m sure the Matildas will go out and kill it.
“It feels like maybe every few years that there’s a moment – whether it’s in sport or something else – that brings the whole nation together. That’s what it’s felt like with this Matildas team.”
Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy has seen the world’s approach to women’s sport change drastically since she started playing, with her local golf club the perfect example of everyone getting around the Matildas.
The cricket star said the clubhouse was packed on Saturday to see Australia beat France, and she’s urged the Matildas to embrace every moment as they look to repeat what the women’s national team did when they won the T20 World Cup on home soil in 2020.
Healy’s only regret is that there hasn’t been more banter between the two teams ahead of the biggest football match played on Australian soil as the hosts look to qualify for a World Cup final for the first time.
“The fact that there’s not a lot of spice in it makes me a bit disappointed. Maybe something will come out tonight or tomorrow before the game,” she said.
“It’s two really great football teams going head-to-head, so to see that in front of a sold-out Stadium Australia (is awesome). As a young girl who grew up playing soccer, it brings a smile to my face to see these girls do something amazing.”
