By Dave Clarke
Tammy Beaumont insists it is vital that England Women start building momentum in their two warm-up games as they prepare in Bangladesh for the World Twenty20.
Charlotte Edwards’ side face Pakistan tomorrow, when they will wear their new strip for the first time, and New Zealand on Friday before kicking off their campaign proper against West Indies next Monday.
And Kent batsman Beaumont, who has earned a recall to the senior set-up after impressing on the England Women's Academy tour of Sri Lanka last month, is eager for the recent Ashes winners to hit the ground running.
“I think we’re all ready to get out there and get our new kit on, play against Pakistan and get our World Cup campaign off and running,” the 23-year-old told ecb.co.uk.
“I think it’s really important [to get off to a winning start]. It gives us momentum going into the group games and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“Obviously it’s good to get everyone out on the pitch but we always want to win in an England shirt.
“Training went really well, we’ve progressed every day, and we’re up-and-running for tomorrow now.”
Beaumont, who has represented her country 50 times across all formats, was left out of the triumphant touring party to Australia.
But she enjoyed an exceptional series in Sri Lanka with the academy, leading the side to four wins in six games and weighing in with 299 runs - the highlight an unbeaten 140 in the second one-day match.
Now Beaumont is hoping to continue that form with the senior side, and believes the time spent on the sub-continent could prove beneficial.
She added: “I think it helps coming from Sri Lanka to here; obviously both (are) sub-continent conditions so I’ve got used to playing on low, turning pitches and it should stand me in good stead so I’m feeling confident.
“The wickets are really nice - they come on a little bit better than what we thought the sub-continent would be like. Obviously there’s a little bit of turn there for our spinners and they’re looking forward to having a bowl.
“All-in-all it’s been really good conditions out here in Bangladesh, they’ve really welcomed us out here and I’m looking forward to it.
“I really enjoyed [captaining the side in Sri Lanka]. It’s something I’ve done through the age groups but it was really nice to captain your country in a representative match and the academy girls were absolutely brilliant.
“They’re really coming along there and it’s a brilliant set-up that they’ve got so it was nice to be able to give something back there from what I’ve experienced in the England team.”