Edwards asked the question – she challenged England’s youngsters to fight for places earlier in the year – but did not panic.
Twelve of this year’s players played in 2024. The same cricketers are playing better now.
But despite all England’s promise, Australia will arrive on Sunday as favourites.
The 16-0 Ashes win came just 18 months ago and while England have won every World Cup hosted in the country, what is more relevant is Australia’s dominance in the biggest matches.
England have not beaten Australia in any of their five World Cup play-off meetings since the World T20 semi-final in 2009, when their spinner Tilly Courtin-Coleman was one year old.
Edwards captained the day, as she did in England’s last Ashes victory in 2014.
And the Australians, who have played 10 World Cup finals since 2000 and lost just one, are not relying solely on the weight of history to carry them to a seventh T20 World Cup.
Great Ellyse Perry, who appears to be winning the race to be fit, said Edwards “wouldn’t let” England lose before taking the field.
“We haven’t really mentioned the Ashes too much,” said captain Sophie Molino.
“We probably looked at a bit of footage that was used in the Ashes, but in different conditions – and they were playing a different style of cricket.”
Skiver-Brant was equally dismissive, although her words indicated an improvement in the mood in England.
“The personnel we have now is completely different, maybe not in who they are, but in where we are as a team and what we’ve been working on,” Skiver-Brunt said.
“The feeling in the band is very different from that Ashes journey. I’m sure a lot of people tried to forget how we felt.
“But we knew we needed to move forward and learn from the lessons of this trip. There was a lot of hard work that needed to be done and what we have achieved now.”
This means that talk of the Ashes may have to wait until the urn is placed on these shores in 2027.
Sunday, with Lord’s sold out again, will be an epic event in itself.
That Sunday in 2017 was about showcasing the growth of the women’s game to the world, but we have now moved beyond that.
FIFA’s U-turn on Saturday morning means the enticing competition will get the attention it deserves rather than being held against football.
For England, this could usher in the Edwards era and give them the time in the cricketing home they deserve more than anyone else.
Perhaps just as importantly, after the Ashes and everything that followed, win or lose, England are a team you can believe in again.