Katherine Brunt says she has 'never wanted to beat Australia more' as England Women need to win all three Twenty20 matches to retain the Ashes.

After being set what would have been a record runchase of 263, England were bowled out for 101 in the only Test match in Canterbury on Friday. They are now 8-2 behind on the points system, which awards four for winning the Test match and two for the One Day Internationals and Twenty20s. They must win the remaining three Twenty20s to draw the series and retain the Ashes as holders.

"It is a big ask but it is not something we think that we can't do," Dodworth woman Brunt, 30, told the Chronicle.

"We are all quite positive about it and we have never wanted to beat Australia more.  We have not played like we are capable of so far this series or with the positive mindset that we want to have. Twenty20 forces you to be positive and aggressive so that might be the best format for us."

England's head coach Paul Shaw, also from Barnsley, does not want to be stripped of his 100 per cent winning record in the Ashes. He said: "I am determined on a personal level not to lose. "Ashes series, with the men or the women, are very special and you want to hold onto the Ashes.  We started well by winning the first One Day International in Taunton but the Australians have been on top since then. We weren't at our best at all in the Test match."

Brunt admitted the way England have started their batting innings so far has cost them dearly. He said: "We have struggled in the top order and, if the first two or three batters, struggle, it leaves the middle order with too much to do.  The Aussies have played really well but our shot selection has been really poor at times. In the Test, we had middle order players coming in at 20 for three and having to defend for 90 overs at times and they are not used to do doing that."

Yorkshire fast bowler Brunt, who top-scored with 39 in the first innings of the Test match and has taken seven wickets in the series, is pleased with her own performances.

"I am happy with the way I have played," said Brunt, who has struggled with a back problem for a decade.

"I have finally had a full season of county cricket which has allowed me to work on my batting. I think I have been quite unlucky not to take more wickets but I have felt in good form and I am staying positive."

The teams meet on Wednesday in Chelmsford, Friday at Hove and the following Monday in Cardiff.