As new England head coach Charlotte Edwards’ tenure gets under way with the white-ball series at home to West Indies, we assess the pressing matters in her in-tray…
Win the most important matches
During Edwards’ 10-year reign as England captain, she guided the team to the 2009 50-over World Cup and T20 World Cup titles as well as three Ashes series victories outright.
In the nine years since she moved on from that role and into retirement, England have lost the ability to win the big one, except for the 2017 World Cup on home soil, and deal with pressure.
The 16-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia this winter was hard to stomach but so were the exits at the previous two T20 World Cups, in South Africa and the UAE respectively.
England were whitewashed 16-0 by Australia in the Women’s Ashes this winter
In 2023, England lost in the semi-finals to South Africa after bungling a run chase, while a year later they capitulated against West Indies, dropping a series of catches and being dumped out in the group stage with then-skipper Heather Knight off the park injured.
Plus, it’s not just in The Ashes – a series England have not won in over a decade – where the team have fallen short against Australia. Add in, too, the 2018 T20 World Cup final and 2022 50-over World Cup final. It’s a narrative serial-winner Edwards must alter.
Win back the fans’ trust and alter perceptions
England bowler Kate Cross feels fans may have been lost after the Ashes debacle, which, around the dreadful results, included star spinner Sophie Ecclestone refusing an interview with Alex Hartley following previous comments about the team’s fitness.
There were also the possibly ill-advised images from last year’s T20 World Cup of players on a boat party in Dubai. Under Edwards, social media use may tighten up.
Edwards, speaking at her unveiling earlier this year, says she is aiming to ‘find the blueprint’ to help the team win major events
She said: “We have talked very openly about the perception of the team – we’ve got to change people’s perceptions. But we’ve got to earn the right to do that.
“We’ve got to stop putting stuff on social media that doesn’t need to be there. If it’s not going to positively reflect on them or us as a group, it probably is not worth posting.”
Fitness – an F-word banned by Edwards – was a hot topic over the winter with England decidedly second best to Australia in that department and it is clearly something that can be improved, although the coach feels “cricket awareness” is what is needed most.
Nat Sciver-Brunt has succeeded Heather Knight as England captain
Find the next captain
While Knight’s successor as captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, may have been the outstanding candidate, she was, in truth, the only candidate. That is a rather damning indictment of England’s succession planning and something they will try to avoid repeating.
At 32, Sciver-Brunt is unlikely to be a decade-long skipper in the way Edwards was and Knight came close to being, so training up her eventual replacement – Ecclestone, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean and Grace Scrivens may be options – should be on the agenda.
England’s Charlie Dean may be a contender to replace Nat Sciver-Brunt as captain in the years ahead
Whether that is through exposure to captaincy in domestic and England A cricket, being part of the leadership group with the national team or even stepping in for Sciver-Brunt if she ever needs a break or to manage her workload, thinking ahead would be wise.
It was a peculiar decision to see a largely youthful group that toured Ireland last September while the first team prepared for the T20 World Cup led by 33-year-old Cross rather than a viable long-term England skipper.
Find some left-handers
Edwards has made it clear players will be selected on performance and not necessarily because they provide a point of difference by bowling left-arm seam, for example.
Batting-wise, though, England’s top and upper middle order has been a right-hand monopoly for some time now, so finding a left-hander or two, just to give opposition bowlers something different to think about, may be of huge benefit.
Grace Scrivens could solve England’s lack of left-handers
Essex captain and former England U19 skipper Scrivens perhaps heads that queue with the 21-year-old long earmarked as an international of the future, while the experienced Eve Jones, now 32, has begun the Metro Bank One Day Cup season in fine form.
Further down the order, England appear to have a left-hander to count on in Freya Kemp, provided she is over the injury issues that have blighted her young career to date.
England have been crying out for a game-changing all-rounder at No 7 for some time, one capable of bowling a heavy quota of overs and contributing significantly with the bat, and Kemp may be the answer.
England Women’s summer fixtures
All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports
T20 international series vs West Indies (May)
- First T20: Wednesday May 21 (6.30pm) – Canterbury
- Second T20: Friday May 23 (6.35pm) – Hove
- Third T20: Monday May 26 (2.30pm) – Chelmsford
One-day international series vs West Indies (May-June)
- First ODI: Friday May 30 (1pm) – Derby
- Second ODI: Wednesday June 4 (1pm) – Leicester
- Third ODI: Saturday June 7 (11am) – Taunton
T20 international series vs India (June-July)
- First T20: Saturday June 28 (2.30pm) – Trent Bridge
- Second T20: Tuesday July 1 (6.30pm) – Bristol
- Third T20: Friday July 4 (6.35pm) – The Kia Oval
- Fourth T20: Wednesday July 9 (6.30pm) – Emirates Old Trafford
- Fifth T20: Saturday July 12 (6.35pm) – Edgbaston
One-day international series vs India (July)
- First ODI: Wednesday July 16 (1pm) – Southampton
- Second ODI: Saturday July 19 (11am) – Lord’s
- Third ODI: Tuesday July 22 (1pm) – Chester-le-Street
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Paulo Massini escolhe técnico do Brasileirão “muito diferente”
Paulo Massini em participação em podcast (Divulgação PodPorco) Em programa esportivo “G4”, da Bandsports, o comentarista Paulo Massini analisou a situação do Palmeiras no Brasileirão. Após mais de 4 anos no comando, o treinador Abel Ferreira foi alvo de elogios pela ofensiva da equipe e a liderança na competição. Massini rasga elogios a Abel Ferreira Durante a análise, o jornalista destacou que o Verdão apresenta bom futebol na maioria das partidas e mesmo naquelas em que não brilha, garante bons resultados. Massini destacou a importância da vitória por 2 a 1 contra o Red Bull Bragantino e o aproveitamento impressionante no Campeonato Paulista. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Massini abriu o jogo sobre a importância de Abel Ferreira no elenco: “O Palmeiras teve a montagem desta proposta para o ano sendo construída e acho que com atraso, sendo que poderia ter sido montada […]
Em um jogo cheio de reviravoltas, Internacional e Palmeiras ficam no empate no Brasileirão Feminino
Em um jogo movimentado, Internacional e Palmeiras empatam pelo Brasileirão Feminino (Reprodução/Lara Vantzen/Internacional) Em um duelo válido pela 11ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino, Internacional e Palmeiras fizeram um jogo cheio de emoção para as duas torcidas. Mesmo estando em situações distintas na tabela, as equipes mostraram o porquê são consideradas fortes candidatas ao título do campeonato nacional. O 1º tempo da partida começou agitado, com um gol logo aos dois minutos. Após cobrança de escanteio, Amanda Gutierres subiu bonito e testou para o gol, colocando o Palmeiras na frente. Porém, aos 13 minutos, o Inter devolveu na mesma moeda. Depois de uma cobrança de escanteio, Bruna Benites deixou tudo igual. Dali em diante, o jogo ficou amarrado, com os dois times se segurando um pouco mais. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE No começo do 2º tempo, as duas equipes voltaram a todo vapor […]
Power conferences working on contract to bind schools to new enforcement rules, with strict punishments
On May 1, in perhaps an intentionally quiet signing, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee scrawled his name across the bottom of a six-page state bill.Tennessee Senate Bill No. 536, its details unearthed last week, paves the way for state schools — University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Memphis, etc. — and their affiliated collectives to break House settlement-related rules and prevents college sports’ new enforcement entity from penalizing those schools.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn layman’s terms, the law is a launched missile toward plans from the NCAA and power conferences to police the revenue-sharing era of college sports, taking aim at the athlete compensation cap, the severe penalties for rule-breakers and the policies that prevent phony booster-backed name, image and likeness deals to players.But power conference executives have plans to combat such laws.Officials from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC are circulating a draft of […]
Bears rookie Luther Burden III bemoans NFL Draft slide, says teams ‘gotta pay’ for passing on him
Getty Images Luther Burden III spent the final year of his college football career as a projected first-round NFL Draft pick. Even after his production tumbled in his final season at Missouri, the 2023 All-American wide receiver still figured to be a Day 1 selection. Instead, Burden slipped out of the first round and the Chicago Bears scooped him up with the No. 39 overall pick. The underwhelming result did not sit well with Burden, he said after the draft.Four wide receivers flew off the board before Burden. Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden each heard their names called in the first round, while Jayden Higgins preceded the former SEC standout in the second round. In turn, Burden had a message for the teams that looked elsewhere for a rookie pass-catcher."That's staying with me forever," Burden said. "Everybody who […]
Rizek indica time quase imbatível no futebol brasileiro: “Passa o carro”
André Rizek, jornalista (Reprodução/GE) Os resultados, mas sobretudo as atuações do Palmeiras, impressionam antes da parada para o Mundial de Clubes. Na abertura do Seleção Sportv, André Rizek exaltou a evolução do time paulista superando adversários importantes longe do Allianz Parque. Líder do Brasileirão com 22 pontos, sendo quatro de vantagem para o Flamengo, o Verdão também é dono da melhor campanha da fase de grupos da Libertadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Você escuta esse clichê de que todo time vai oscilar no campeonato. É fato. Agora, só um time até aqui esteve sempre ou na liderança ou perto dela. Palmeiras não é um time encantador, mas ele é de uma eficiência absurda, força mental e difícil de ser parado”, disse Rizek. “É impressionante. Fora de casa, ele praticamente está passando o carro. Derrotou o Sport, Internacional, Fortaleza, o Vasco, em Brasília, […]
‘Tush Push’ update: Packers submit revised proposal to ban controversial play ahead of NFL’s spring meeting
Getty Images The Green Bay Packers have submitted a revised proposal to ban the "Tush Push," the controversial play that played an integral role in the Philadelphia Eagles' 2024 Super Bowl run. The NFL's owners are expected to vote on the play's future during Wednesday's league meeting in Minneapolis. Green Bay's revised iteration of the proposed ban is broader and is similar to the NFL's language from 1920 through the 2005 season, which prohibited players from pushing or pulling the runner in any direction. Given the language that's included in this revised proposal, it would be virtually impossible for the "Tush Push" to live on if the proposal gets the necessary 24 votes from league owners to put it into effect. Yes, the Eagles and other teams could likely find a creative way to mimic the "Tush Push" if this proposal passes, […]
Related
Paulo Massini escolhe técnico do Brasileirão “muito diferente”
Paulo Massini em participação em podcast (Divulgação PodPorco) Em programa esportivo “G4”, da Bandsports, o comentarista Paulo Massini analisou a situação do Palmeiras no Brasileirão. Após mais de 4 anos no comando, o treinador Abel Ferreira foi alvo de elogios pela ofensiva da equipe e a liderança na competição. Massini rasga elogios a Abel Ferreira Durante a análise, o jornalista destacou que o Verdão apresenta bom futebol na maioria das partidas e mesmo naquelas em que não brilha, garante bons resultados. Massini destacou a importância da vitória por 2 a 1 contra o Red Bull Bragantino e o aproveitamento impressionante no Campeonato Paulista. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE Massini abriu o jogo sobre a importância de Abel Ferreira no elenco: “O Palmeiras teve a montagem desta proposta para o ano sendo construída e acho que com atraso, sendo que poderia ter sido montada […]
Em um jogo cheio de reviravoltas, Internacional e Palmeiras ficam no empate no Brasileirão Feminino
Em um jogo movimentado, Internacional e Palmeiras empatam pelo Brasileirão Feminino (Reprodução/Lara Vantzen/Internacional) Em um duelo válido pela 11ª rodada do Brasileirão Feminino, Internacional e Palmeiras fizeram um jogo cheio de emoção para as duas torcidas. Mesmo estando em situações distintas na tabela, as equipes mostraram o porquê são consideradas fortes candidatas ao título do campeonato nacional. O 1º tempo da partida começou agitado, com um gol logo aos dois minutos. Após cobrança de escanteio, Amanda Gutierres subiu bonito e testou para o gol, colocando o Palmeiras na frente. Porém, aos 13 minutos, o Inter devolveu na mesma moeda. Depois de uma cobrança de escanteio, Bruna Benites deixou tudo igual. Dali em diante, o jogo ficou amarrado, com os dois times se segurando um pouco mais. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE No começo do 2º tempo, as duas equipes voltaram a todo vapor […]
Power conferences working on contract to bind schools to new enforcement rules, with strict punishments
On May 1, in perhaps an intentionally quiet signing, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee scrawled his name across the bottom of a six-page state bill.Tennessee Senate Bill No. 536, its details unearthed last week, paves the way for state schools — University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Memphis, etc. — and their affiliated collectives to break House settlement-related rules and prevents college sports’ new enforcement entity from penalizing those schools.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn layman’s terms, the law is a launched missile toward plans from the NCAA and power conferences to police the revenue-sharing era of college sports, taking aim at the athlete compensation cap, the severe penalties for rule-breakers and the policies that prevent phony booster-backed name, image and likeness deals to players.But power conference executives have plans to combat such laws.Officials from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC are circulating a draft of […]
Bears rookie Luther Burden III bemoans NFL Draft slide, says teams ‘gotta pay’ for passing on him
Getty Images Luther Burden III spent the final year of his college football career as a projected first-round NFL Draft pick. Even after his production tumbled in his final season at Missouri, the 2023 All-American wide receiver still figured to be a Day 1 selection. Instead, Burden slipped out of the first round and the Chicago Bears scooped him up with the No. 39 overall pick. The underwhelming result did not sit well with Burden, he said after the draft.Four wide receivers flew off the board before Burden. Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka and Matthew Golden each heard their names called in the first round, while Jayden Higgins preceded the former SEC standout in the second round. In turn, Burden had a message for the teams that looked elsewhere for a rookie pass-catcher."That's staying with me forever," Burden said. "Everybody who […]
Rizek indica time quase imbatível no futebol brasileiro: “Passa o carro”
André Rizek, jornalista (Reprodução/GE) Os resultados, mas sobretudo as atuações do Palmeiras, impressionam antes da parada para o Mundial de Clubes. Na abertura do Seleção Sportv, André Rizek exaltou a evolução do time paulista superando adversários importantes longe do Allianz Parque. Líder do Brasileirão com 22 pontos, sendo quatro de vantagem para o Flamengo, o Verdão também é dono da melhor campanha da fase de grupos da Libertadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Você escuta esse clichê de que todo time vai oscilar no campeonato. É fato. Agora, só um time até aqui esteve sempre ou na liderança ou perto dela. Palmeiras não é um time encantador, mas ele é de uma eficiência absurda, força mental e difícil de ser parado”, disse Rizek. “É impressionante. Fora de casa, ele praticamente está passando o carro. Derrotou o Sport, Internacional, Fortaleza, o Vasco, em Brasília, […]
‘Tush Push’ update: Packers submit revised proposal to ban controversial play ahead of NFL’s spring meeting
Getty Images The Green Bay Packers have submitted a revised proposal to ban the "Tush Push," the controversial play that played an integral role in the Philadelphia Eagles' 2024 Super Bowl run. The NFL's owners are expected to vote on the play's future during Wednesday's league meeting in Minneapolis. Green Bay's revised iteration of the proposed ban is broader and is similar to the NFL's language from 1920 through the 2005 season, which prohibited players from pushing or pulling the runner in any direction. Given the language that's included in this revised proposal, it would be virtually impossible for the "Tush Push" to live on if the proposal gets the necessary 24 votes from league owners to put it into effect. Yes, the Eagles and other teams could likely find a creative way to mimic the "Tush Push" if this proposal passes, […]
Be the first to leave a comment