💥 Read this must-read post from BBC Sport 📖
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✅ Here’s what you’ll learn:
Winning is a habit for Edwards.
As captain, she led England to T20 World Cup and Ashes victories in 2013-14. As a coach, the Southern Vipers have dominated the UK women’s domestic scene, Southern Brave winning The Hundred in 2023 and winning the Indian Women’s Premier League with Mumbai Indians in their inaugural season.
What has become evident in her coaching style with England is her insistence on clarity of roles, ensuring that individuals are fully aware of their responsibilities once they cross the rope.
Under Lewis, the slogan ‘inspire and entertain’ did not suit everyone, and became confused – especially with younger players who, through lack of experience alone, had yet to complete 50-over cricket.
“In terms of individuals, the team is not completely different, but the clarity of the role that everyone plays, and the skills they have developed to fulfill that role, has really changed,” Siver-Brandt told BBC Sport, when asked how England’s approach to ODIs has changed since the winter.
“I was really impressed with everyone taking that accountability and responsibility and what they wanted to work on and what they wanted to get out of themselves.”
It was clear that after such a difficult tour, England needed that structure and guidance to get back on track, and they went back to basics.
A prime example of Edwards’ impact on the team is Lynsey Smith, having worked together on the Vipers for several years.
Smith is England’s powerplay weapon, a role she has fulfilled in county cricket, and she is effective without being overly flashy – she bowls very straight, rarely leaves the stumps and drifts the ball deftly to the right-hander with great effect.
Charlie Dean is another player who came under Edwards’ wing at Hampshire Vipers, and was appointed vice-captain ahead of the World Cup.
“I know her [Edwards’] “Style and it feels like we’re really getting into the nuances of the game now,” Dean said.
“We try to bring out really strong performances and the best out of each other. I think every coach comes with his own ideas and when you buy into them, that’s when the team really flies.”
Their batting focuses on building the innings, batting for time and taking the game as deep as possible, once again moving away from Lewis’ aggressiveness while highlighting Edwards’ focus on winning no matter how it is achieved.
“England have found ways to win and that’s the fun thing now,” World Cup winner Alex Hartley said on the BBC podcast.
“There have been some games where they have crossed the line, but now it is about doing it when they are under pressure.”
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