Charlotte Edwards draws out of her memories of playing “For Nothing” as an amateur to keep England grounded in their World Cup -opener against South Africa in Guwahati on Friday.
The head coach of England represented her country between 1996 and 2016 and played 18 of those years before the arrival of professional contracts, and she joked this week that she could “write a book” about her tournament debut at the 1997 World Cup in India.
However, there was also a serious point with the current team, accused of the Whitewash of January in January of lost contact with reality after major wage increases in 2024.
“It doesn’t matter if you play for $ 14 million or for nothing, it means exactly the same to set up the three lions,” said Edwards – a reference to the tournament fee, which amounts to a stunning $ 13.88 million (£ 10.3 million). “In 1997 we had three support staff – we now have about 15. But it meant just as much to me, and I shared that with the players last night.”
The predecessor of Edwards, Jon Lewis, supervised a succession of failures on the world stage, including in the group phases of the T20 World Cup last October. However, Edwards wanted to emphasize the improvements in fitness and culture since she took the lead in April.
“With this group we have now created an environment when it comes to responsibility,” she said. “We really have clarity about how we want to play the game, and hopefully that clarity will help this team under pressure.
“We are physically in a good place – we have made a number of real shifts. The signs have so far been really strong in terms of the development I have seen in the past six months. I just hope we can bring that to the big stage now.”
The task of selecting an XI will be made easier by the expectation that the captain, Nat Sciver Brunt, will bowle its full allocation of 10 overs, allowing England to select the luxury to select seven batters against South Africa. “She has been one of the most successful bowlers in the WPL in recent years, so we hope to continue that form in 50-over cricket,” said Edwards.
The top order of England is stacked with experience, with Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont to open the Batting and Heather Knight on No. 3. Knight injured her hamstring against West India in May and was confronted with a race by the time to be for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this. Tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament for this tournament, for a time in a hyperbaric room about the operation.
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Edwards said that the former captain of England was relieved to have made it: “The last two weeks were huge for Heather in terms of her first introduction to playing. It is great to have her back in that no. 3 place for us. The experience she brings to our group, on and outside the field is so valuable.”
There is less certainty around the middle order, with Alice Capsey and Emma Lamb-Die Top did not scored with 88 and 60 in England’s Warming-Up against Australia on Sunday that possible fighting for a place. England defeated the ruling champions with four wickets, of which Edwards said she had given her side confidence for Friday’s game. “Our middle order showed real adulthood,” she added.
The fact that the leg spinner Sarah Glenn has taken five wickets in that match has also yielded something of a selection printing pain. Given the turning wicket in Guwahati, England will probably play three spinners, but it is still to see whether Glenn can do one of the established trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean.
For now, Edwards is covering its bets. “We must be really adaptable in this tournament,” she said. “Everyone will be willing to play on Friday.”
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