Charlotte Edwards is relishing locking horns with a former team-mate when England women tour New Zealand next month.
Edwards and White Ferns opposite number Suzie Bates both played state cricket for Western Fury this winter in the Australian Women’s National Cricket League and Twenty20, the latter a competition that England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is aiming to qualify for the final of when she represents South Australian Scorpions against Konica Minolta Queensland Fire tomorrow.
Now the Fury pair are set to go head-to-head in five one-day internationals and Twenty20s, a challenge Edwards cannot wait for.
The 35-year-old told ecb.co.uk: “I spent a good six weeks with Suzie and it was great to play in the same team as her.
“She is obviously a world-class player and I got to see that firs-hand. I’m looking forward to be going up against her, we talked about that a bit when we were in Perth.
“She has been a really good performer for New Zealand over a period of time, so I have got a few plans in place.
“But I am more looking forward to playing New Zealand in their home country and been successful, which we have been in the last two trips we have been there.”
England have fond memories of touring New Zealand, winning all seven of their completed matches on their previous visit to the country in 2012.
The White Ferns are currently bottom of the International Cricket Council Women’s Championship, but Edwards insists they are not a team to take lightly.
The opening batter said: “They are a very powerful team. They have got some world-class players in Bates, (Amy) Satterthwaite and (Sophie) Devine and they are a team we never underestimate.
“They are always around ICC events in semi-finals and finals. They have probably not had the best 12 months as a team, but that is something we cannot be complacent about.”
With the first three ODIs counting towards their progress in the championship, Edwards knows her side have to hit the ground running.
She added: “We have got to go out there and start well, with the first three games being part of the ICC Women’s Championship it’s crucial. They are must-win games for us.”