Captaining England women for the 200th time in the third Twenty20 international with New Zealand tonight will make Charlotte Edwards “hugely proud.”
The 35-year-old is set for another milestone in a glittering international career, which started in Guildford in 1996 at the age of 16 and has seen her make 22 Test, 183 one-day international and 83 T20 appearances.
Her leadership qualities were evident from the off and she was officially named successor to the retiring Clare Connor in March 2006.
Now, 199 games later, Edwards has spoken of her pride as she embarks on the landmark at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, where England are looking to secure the three-match series after the White Ferns fought back.
The opening batter told ecb.co.uk: “I am hugely proud. It wasn’t something I was aware of until we left. I think my Twitter went mad for a few hours.
“To realise then that you are going to make a milestone, the 200th game as captain, was something I am hugely proud of.
“I have a huge amount of people to thank along the way. Without my friends and, most importantly, my family, I’m sure they will be more proud of me more tomorrow than I will be.
“I am obviously hugely honoured.”
On her captaincy style, she added: “I am hard but fair. I am very determined, I lead from the front in everything I do. That is something I have always prided myself on.
“Everything I do is underpinned on my passion for the game and hopefully that is something that has come across to the players in the time I have been playing. I love what I do, I love captaining England.
“It is a proud moment for me to have done it so many times now. It is just enjoyment and passion that gets me through, and that is why I have played so many games.”
Edwards’ first taste of England captaincy came in 2005 when she stepped in for the injured Connor in Sri Lanka.
Recalling that match, she said: “(I remember it) like it was yesterday. In Sri Lanka, Claire Connor wasn’t part of that trip and I was asked to captain.
“I remember going out to toss the coin for the first time for England, it was a very proud moment. I took over officially in 2006 against India.
“It seems a long time ago, 200 games on and I still have the same amount of passion and enthusiasm for the game. It is something that makes me really proud.”
England women's captain @Lottie2323 is going to be live from NZ on @SkySportsNewsHQ any moment! #EngWomen pic.twitter.com/8K0JESp4bF
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 23, 2015
As well as excelling with the bat at the top of the order, Edwards has led England to World Cup, World Twenty20 and Ashes glory, winning the latter on three occasions, while also being awarded an MBE for her services to sport.
She said: “There are quite a few (highlights). In 200 games there are going to be a few highlights.
“But winning the World Cup in 2009 was always something that was a career ambition as a player and to do it as captain makes it even more important.
“2009 and the double Ashes wins, in 2013 and 2014, will always be memorable for me and the team.”
On the lows, Edwards added: “That is part and parcel of being captain. There are many low points along the way as well. I think 2012/13, the two World Cups when we narrowly missed out in those games.
“And after 2013 when I was really considering my future as a player and retirement. It was probably a good decision that I did decide to carry on because there has been a lot of success since then.
“That was a really tough time, but you have to go through that to reap the rewards of all the success we have had.”