Charlotte Edwards insists she couldn’t be happier together with her gamers forward of their Ladies’s World Cup opener as England look to place the previous behind them.
The stress is on for England to indicate they haven’t been left behind within the girls’s recreation after an Ashes whitewash by the hands of Australia and their failure to make it by means of to the group phases ultimately 12 months’s T20 World Cup.
Edwards, who captained England for a decade, changed Jon Lewis as head coach in April and is delighted with the progress she has seen.
“I’ve not spoken about something in regards to the previous, it’s all about trying ahead,” she stated forward of Friday’s conflict with South Africa in Guwahati.
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Readability
“I feel, with this group now, we’ve created an surroundings the place it’s about taking accountability and we’ve obtained actual readability on how we wish to play the sport.
“Hopefully, that readability’s going to assist this workforce below stress as a result of I don’t suppose we’ll go away a stone unturned by way of our prep.
“The indicators have been actually robust thus far by way of the event I’ve seen within the final six months. And I’m simply hoping we are able to take that now on to the large stage.”
Below Edwards, England skilled a combined summer season, dominating towards the West Indies however dropping T20 and one-day sequence towards India.
(Martin Rickett/PA)
Confidence
Their confidence heading into the World Cup has been boosted by warm-up victories over hosts India and Australia, and Edwards stated: “We’re not getting carried away, don’t fear, however we all know that we’re heading in the right direction and we’re monitoring very well shifting into the primary recreation.
“I feel there’s by no means a pleasant towards worldwide opposition, so we’ve taken a variety of confidence, not essentially across the consequence, however the way in which we’ve performed.
“I really feel we’re actually properly positioned. You’ll be happy to listen to we’ve been fielding very well, in order that’s one thing that we clearly needed to work on.
“Below stress, the gamers have responded very well. We’re in a very good place bodily and we’ve made some actual shifts, which is admittedly pleasing. I couldn’t be happier.”
Key asset
Edwards’ successor as captain, Heather Knight, paid the value for England’s poor run together with Lewis however she stays a key asset each as a batter and for her huge expertise.
The 34-year-old missed the summer season season with a hamstring harm however has recovered in time to take her place within the squad, and Edwards added: “She’s important to our success out right here. I anticipate huge issues for her. She’s trying in nice contact and able to go.
“The final two weeks have been large for Heather by way of her first introduction again to enjoying and he or she actually did simply come again as regular.
“It’s so nice to have her again in that quantity three spot for us, a place that clearly we missed her in all through the summer season. The expertise she brings to our group on and off the sphere is so precious.”
(Steven Paston/PA)
Damage
Knight’s successor as captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, has additionally been restricted by harm, with an Achilles drawback limiting her bowling.
Edwards, although, is anticipating her to have the ability to fulfil her complement of overs on Friday, saying: “Nat’s able to go. She’s bowling.
“She hasn’t bowled in each warm-up recreation however she’s doing plenty of coaching overs as properly. She’s in a extremely good place bodily. So we’re hoping for 10 overs out of Nat.”
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