Danni Wyatt-Hodge believes Heather Knight is absolutely targeted on the T20 World Cup regardless of the England captain being sanctioned final week for showing in ‘blackface’ at a flowery costume occasion in 2012.
{A photograph} of Knight, then 21 and two years into her England profession, was unearthed on Fb just lately and led to her being reprimanded and given a suspended £1,000 positive by the Cricket Self-discipline Fee after she admitted a cost of bringing the sport into disrepute.
Knight, England captain since 2016, mentioned she was “really sorry for the error” she made and Dave Lewis, the interim director of the Cricket Regulator, accepted there was “no racist intent in her conduct”.
Based on Wyatt-Hodge, who was disciplined two years in the past for fees regarding ‘blackface’ from an Instagram put up in 2013, Knight’s team-mates have rallied around her within the United Arab Emirates.
Drawing a line underneath it
England get their marketing campaign underway in opposition to Bangladesh in Sharjah on Saturday and Wyatt-Hodge is assured Knight has drawn a line underneath all the things else.
“Everyone knows that Heather has apologised and has emphasised her ardour and dedication to utilizing her platform to advertise inclusivity throughout the sport,” Wyatt-Hodge advised the PA information company.
“She’s our captain and clearly she didn’t want that. She’s ready rather well over the past couple of weeks and we absolutely again her, put our arm round her and she or he appears good to go now.”
So, too, is Wyatt-Hodge, who’s about to embark upon her seventh T20 World Cup and is in optimistic temper this time may be totally different to the previous six events the place England have drawn a clean.
In addition to England profitable 13 of 14 white-ball matches in the summertime – solely a washout prevented a exceptional clear sweep – Wyatt-Hodge is satisfied a preparatory coaching camp in Abu Dhabi has sharpened minds on the duty at hand.
Up the Order
Having occupied a wide range of roles within the crew down the years from all-rounder to middle-order batter, Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is now an opener tasked with getting England off to a flyer alongside Maia Bouchier.
“I’m going to be nervous, there’s added stress opening the batting however I simply wish to take pleasure in it,” she mentioned. “I’ve nonetheless not gained a T20 World Cup so it’s about time that it occurred.
“The final couple of instances I’ve actually needed my arms on that trophy however I’ve received an excellent feeling about this one. I believe that couple of weeks in Abu Dhabi shall be actually good for us, it can bode properly.”
If profitable a primary international trophy because the 2017 50-over World Cup was not sufficient of a carrot for England, the Worldwide Cricket Council introduced there shall be document prize cash on provide.
Simply over £6million is up for grabs, greater than double what was accessible in final yr’s version, with the ICC committing to equal prize pots for all males’s and ladies’s competitions going forwards.
“It’s superb to see and the ladies absolutely deserve it,” Wyatt-Hodge mentioned. “There’s so many sacrifices everybody goes via. It’s robust on the prime and I really feel like that is simply the beginning.”
Wyatt-Hodge speaks from expertise about sacrifice as she’s going to now be on the street till simply earlier than Christmas, solely weeks after marrying long-time accomplice Georgie Hodge within the south of France in August.
Busy Schedule
They squeezed in a mini-moon to Saint-Tropez however a busy winter schedule additionally involving a visit to Australia for the Huge Bash League and England’s tour of South Africa doesn’t faze Wyatt-Hodge.
“I’ve actually received married after which I’m away until Christmas now,” Wyatt-Hodge, who will debut her double-barrel surname in a aggressive atmosphere this weekend, mentioned.
“However particularly at my age, I simply wish to take pleasure in each second. I really like travelling. I really like being residence however I get itchy ft after a couple of days.
“I purchased a home in the summertime, I’ve solely stayed there for 2 weeks. It’s been very hectic however I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Wyatt-Hodge top-scored for England with 35 off simply 19 balls as they defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets on Tuesday of their last World Cup warm-up. England chased down 128 with three overs to spare.
READ MORE: England wicketkeeper Amy Jones eager to embrace difficult situations within the UAE
