By Callum Dent
Although the start of the summer did not go according to plan, England Women bounced back in style to display what a highly-skilled professional outfit they are.
Faced with a Kia Test and three Royal London one-day internationals against India, as well as a trio of NatWest Twenty20s versus South Africa, Charlotte Edwards’ side were favourites for a clean sweep.
However, the four-day defeat at Wormsley left the hosts under pressure to perform in the limited-overs formats, something they thrived on as they romped to 2-0 and 3-0 series victories respectively.
Reflecting on the summer as a whole, vice-captain Heather Knight told ecb.co.uk: "I think overall it went really well. We didn’t start it in the best manner with the Test match.
“That was not the way we wanted to start the summer. We didn’t play well enough to be fair, credit to the Indians who took advantage of that and played really well to beat us.
“But the way we bounced back in the ODI’s and Twenty20s, to win them all was great and was testament to the character of the team. When we don’t play so well, we usually come back strongly.
“It was a good summer as a team and leading into the winter we are looking to build on that.”
Boosted by new contracts, in which the players will benefit from new and improved financial arrangements, England started their professional era in disappointing fashion with a six-wicket loss to India.
India, making their return to the format following an eight-year absence, showed no signs of rustiness as England struggled with the bat.
After losing the toss, the home side were skittled for 92 but only conceded a first-innings deficit of 22 courtesy of Jenny Gunn’s 5-19.
They fared better second time round as Gunn continued her fine match with an unbeaten 62, but it proved in vain as the tourists - for whom Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj made fifties - eased to a comfortable triumph.
That defeat sparked England into action and they cruised to series victories in the limited-overs matches with India and the Proteas.
Knight said: “After the Test match we were all pretty disappointed with how we played.
“There is always pressure if you don’t perform, especially as it is coined as the new professional era.
“We were getting a lot of criticism about how we played at Wormsley. It was the pressure and that criticism that made us come out harder at Scarborough in the ODI’s and we proved people wrong.”
Knight and skipper Edwards both excelled as England wrapped up the three-match rubber with victories at Scarborough.
Transforming herself into a spinner after a hamstring injury ended her hopes of bowling seam, the former’s hard work in the nets paid off.
The 23-year-old took 3-28 to restrict India to 193 for eight before starring with the bat, joining Edwards in hitting a half-century during an opening stand of 110 that set the platform for a 42-run Duckworth-Lewis victory.
Edwards again displayed her world-class talents in the next outing at North Marine Road, hitting a record ninth ODI hundred in England’s 214 for nine.
Knight then continued her emergence as a tweaker, taking 2-29, while Gunn’s 4-23 helped see off a spirited India innings that ended 13 runs short on 201, leaving the third match that fell victim to the weather at Lord’s insignificant.
Knight said: “I did ok in the ODI’s and it was really nice to contribute with the ball. Spin is pretty new to me.
“I have only been bowling it for three or four months now so it was really nice to contribute in another way and bowl a few tweakers. I used to bowl little seamers, not really for England, but for my county.
“I had quite a bad hamstring injury in the Ashes last summer and bowling seam was not really an option. I just bowled spin in the nets and it started coming out ok and I worked hard on it. It paid off in the end.”
Having swept India to one side, England turned their attentions to a young South Africa outfit in the sprint format.
Edwards again led by example with the bat and seamer Gunn continued her impressive summer as their side, boosted by the return of the fit-again Katherine Brunt, took advantage of the Proteas’ inexperience in the televised showdowns.
Set just 90 to win the opening encounter at the Essex County Ground, Edwards hurried England to a nine-wicket rout with 62 not out.
Edwards was again unbeaten at Wantage Road, hitting 75, before Gunn and Knight shared five scalps in a 42-run success.
However, when Edwards failed to fire, England showed they had other players that could rise to the occasion as youngster Lauren Winfield lit up Edgbaston.
Opening alongside Edwards, Winfield overcame the early loss of her skipper by blasting 74 off 60 deliveries to lift England to 126 for six.
Gunn rounded off a fine summer by taking 2-18 to restrict South Africa to 118 for six and give England another boost heading into the winter.
When asked of Edwards’ stunning displays, Knight - who collected the Waitrose women's player of the year award on behalf of her opening partner at the PCA Awards on Wednesday night - replied: “She knocked off a few runs, didn’t she?
“Her form was amazing this summer and I think it was probably one of her best, even though she has been playing for England donkey’s years, 18 years I think.
“She is at the top of her game still and I am pretty glad she is on my team, not someone else’s.”
On the return of Brunt and emergence of Winfield, she added: “It was good to have Brunty back in the side.
“She had a pretty serious back injury and has been our leader of the attack for a fair few years. It was good to have her come back into the side and have her character back in the dressing room.
“A few players stood out this summer and it was good to see Lauren Winfield, after a few years around the squad, show how good she can be and put in a few good performances.”
Having finished the summer schedule with England, Knight took part in a charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro to play in the world-record highest game of cricket before travelling to Australia.
She is heading Down Under to feature in state cricket for Tasmania Roar and will line up against team-mate Edwards’ Western Fury in her first outing.
Knight concluded: “It was a great trip, seriously tough. It was probably one of the toughest things I have ever done.
“But it was so worth it. It was a really incredible trip and to come away with the world record as well was great. It is one that will last long in the memory.
“I am then going to Tasmania to play. I leave in a couple of weeks, so I am going out slightly later than the other girls. Our first game is against Lottie’s Western Australia, so that will be good.”