Charlotte Edwards looks back at Ashes victory and ahead to the World Twenty20
By Dominic Farrell
England Women captain Charlotte Edwards wants her Ashes heroines to make the most of some well-earned rest before beginning an assault on further glory at the World Twenty20.
Edwards’ team made it back-to-back Ashes triumphs over the past month courtesy of a fiercely contested 10-8 victory under the multi-format points system in Australia.
As injuries took a toll during the closing games, England were second best by two matches to one in the T20 leg of the rubber, but Edwards believes regaining the crown they won on home soil in 2009 is within their reach in Bangladesh.
“I think it’s important that the girls have a bit of a break, but equally there isn’t much time between the tournaments,” she toldecb.co.uk.
“We have a week off or so and then we get back into training. It’s great that we can really focus our attention on the T20 format.
“That’s been a real goal of ours for a year or so now, to go out and win the T20. We’ve learned a lot (in Australia) – we haven’t played as well as we’d have liked in the T20 format but hopefully it will stand us in good stead.”
Edwards played a starring role as her magnificent 92 not out in Hobart gave England an unassailable series lead after the first T20I in Hobart.
Nevertheless, the 34-year-old was keen to pay tribute to a group effort Down Under – drawing particular focus to the contribution of less experienced squad members such as Kate Cross, Natalie Sciver and Natasha Farrant.
“I’m hitting them really well and that innings will, I guess, go down with me as one of my treasured moments because, ultimately, it captured these (Ashes)," Edwards said, reflecting on her Hobart heroics.
“But there’s a lot of effort that’s gone in by everyone. They’re a pretty resilient bunch and the way they’ve adapted their games over the formats has pleased me more.
“Cross bowled brilliantly in the Test, Sciver has been exceptional throughout and also young Farrant coming in and bowling a spell.
“Everyone has played a little bit of a part in this win and that’s what probably makes it just so special.”
And with the World T20 approaching on the back of such a high-quality series, Edwards feels women’s cricket stands as the ultimate winner.
She added: “It’s been (a good standard) throughout. It’s a shame there’s not been as many people in to watch it as we’d like but I know all the games have been streamed or on Sky, so it’s been fantastic to see.
“Hopefully they (the fans) have enjoyed it as much as well have because both teams should take a lot of credit for the show we put on and the cricket we both played.”