Former England fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt will watch at Lord’s as her wife Nat attempts to lead her country to glory.

Although a nervous observer (she was often seen unable to watch games due to nerves during her stints on BBC Test Match Special), as a player she was ruthlessly competitive and no team ignited her passion more than the Australians.

“For me, I saw it as the most important fight,” Sciver-Brunt told BBC Sport, when asked how he approached the mental battle of playing Australia.

“When you play against Australia, because they are so good, it made me sick because I had to go to that place. They bring out the best in you.

“But at the same time, they can beat you before you’ve even started and I think that’s what happened with the West Indies.” [in the semi-final] – Australia can get into your head before you even step foot on the field and you can’t let that happen.”

England have faced Australia twice since the fateful Ashes: a six-wicket defeat in the World Cup in October and a five-wicket defeat in a warm-up match before this tournament began.

Despite that record, Sciver-Brunt doesn’t think England will dwell on the past.

“As a recent former player, it’s really hard for me to turn off my feelings when it comes to England-Australia,” Sciver-Brunt said with a laugh.

“I know we were completely criticized and as a player I would be someone who would latch onto that.

“But my head hasn’t gone there [to the Ashes] and I honestly don’t think it’s in theirs either. What you are seeing in England is very different now and it has happened very quickly.

“They’re riding this wave of a new beginning and a new beginning and they have all the confidence and belief that it takes to win something big.”

At Lord’s, however, the stakes are much higher and this is an England team that, in the past, has been accused of being unable to handle such occasions.

That’s where a legend of the game steps in to steer the ship…