England’s women’s cricket team will have to meet minimum fitness standards before next year’s home T20 World Cup. This change comes under the new head coach, Charlotte Edwards.
Edwards spoke about these changes just before her first match as coach on April 1. The game was the first of three T20 internationals against West Indies in Canterbury. She addressed key problems the team faced after their 16-0 Ashes loss. That defeat led to the firing of former coach Jon Lewis and the removal of Heather Knight as captain.
Fitness was one major concern. England’s fielding also received heavy criticism. These issues hurt the team badly when they last played West Indies at the T20 World Cup in October.
England lost that match by six wickets and were knocked out in the group stage. West Indies went on to the next round. During the game, Knight was injured while batting. England also dropped five catches. West Indies’ Qiana Joseph and captain Hayley Matthews both scored fifties, helping their team win easily.
The loss showed that England needs stronger leadership depth. Nat Sciver-Brunt is currently the only clear option to replace Knight as captain after her nine years in charge. The team also made changes to the top batting order and bowling attack, both during the early Powerplay overs and at the end of innings.
For the upcoming series, England will form a leadership group under Sciver-Brunt. This group will change for the next three or four series, including three ODIs against West Indies and two home white-ball series against India.
In the T20Is against West Indies, Sciver-Brunt’s deputies will be Amy Jones, Charlie Dean, and Sophia Dunkley. Jones previously captained England during a 2022 series against India when Knight was injured and Sciver-Brunt was on a mental health break.
Edwards said, “We had to address fitness clearly. When I arrived, I told the players that the first six months are about individual improvement. Before this World Cup, it’s about players improving as much as possible. I did not set fitness standards right away because there were none before. That would have defeated the purpose.”
She added, “But I expect that by this time next year, players will know there will be minimum fitness standards they must meet. There needs to be more accountability. I have been very impressed with their standards and effort so far.”
Edwards’ squad choices, made with selector Lydia Greenway, plus Clare Connor and Jonathan Finch, show how she plans to improve the team on the field. England contracted players are now required to play the first seven rounds of domestic cricket.
Emma Lamb returned to the ODI squad after scoring 577 runs at an average of 82.42 in the Metro Bank One Day Cup, replacing Maia Bouchier. Issy Wong is back for the T20Is, and Emily Arlott could make her international debut after being named in both squads.
Wong faced some issues with her rhythm and run-up after a strong 2023 season with Edwards’ Mumbai Indians in the WPL. However, she impressed during England A’s recent tour of Australia. Arlott was previously called to England Test squads but did not debut due to Covid-19. She earned another chance after taking 14 wickets at an average of 20.85 this season and scoring a hundred against Essex.
Both Wong and Arlott are expected to support Lauren Bell in the powerplay and at the death. Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone is currently recovering from a knee injury suffered during the WPL, which ruled her out of the West Indies series.
Edwards said, “We have a strong group of spinners, but our death bowling needs improvement. The statistics show that clearly. It’s great to see Issy Wong smiling again after a tough few years.”
She added, “Emily Arlott has shown her talent for seasons and deserves this chance. I’ve watched her train, and she is outstanding with both ball and lower-order hitting. She once thought her England dream was over after Covid, but now she is ready to play international cricket.”
West Indies failed to qualify for the 50-over World Cup in India later this year. They will be without key hitters Deandra Dottin and Chinelle Henry. However, Edwards warned England would not underestimate their opponents.
“We must be ruthless when we get chances in games,” Edwards said. “We will judge ourselves by winning and how we win. But we respect West Indies—they beat us in the last big game. We want to improve our fielding, which we have worked hard on recently. This T20 series is also a chance to test players in different roles ahead of the World Cups.”
Edwards also announced that Australian coach Luke Williams will join as a consultant coach for the West Indies visit. Williams leads the Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL. He has previously worked with Edwards in the Hundred and with Australia Women A.
