She has an English T20 event named after her. After establishing herself as one of many all-time greats of girls’s cricket, Charlotte Edwards took to teaching with the identical ardour that drove her to make 10,273 worldwide runs. She broke the document for the very best ODI rating in ladies’s cricket as a 17-year-old. Greater than a decade later, she led England to 2 World Cup triumphs in the identical 12 months! She guided Mumbai Indians to victory within the inaugural WPL. She can also be the coach of Sydney Sixers, Southern Courageous and Hampshire. Edwards spoke to The Hindu in the course of the first leg of the WPL’s third season at Vadodara. Excerpts:
How do you discover your journey with Mumbai Indians within the WPL?
I completely find it irresistible. It has been one of many actual highlights of my profession when it comes to enjoying and training. We at all times hoped there can be a WPL. Then to be a part of that first version with Mumbai Indians, it’s what goals are product of actually.
It was nice to undergo an public sale for the primary time, after which to get that group collectively inside a brief period of time. What I’m actually happy about is the way in which the Indian uncapped gamers have used their alternative. The way in which Saika Ishaque performed for us within the WPL’s first season after which occurring to play for India, and S. Sajana hitting that six first ball within the second season. Now these are life-changing moments for these folks.
Once I sit in a dugout in entrance of 20,000 folks within the night time, right here, or Bengaluru final 12 months or earlier than that in Mumbai, these are particular moments. It has been implausible, you type of need to pinch your self.
![When they were rivals: Edwards relished her battles with ‘unbelievable bowler’ Jhulan Goswami. ‘I feel very fortunate now to work with her [at Mumbai Indians] and, you know, call her my friend,’ she says. | Photo credit: Sandeep Saxena](https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/bx6m1e/article69276642.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/India_England_Womens_Cricket_B.jpg "When they were rivals: Edwards relished her battles with ‘unbelievable bowler’ Jhulan Goswami. ‘I feel very fortunate now to work with her [at Mumbai Indians] and, you know, call her my friend,’ she says. | Photo credit: Sandeep Saxena")
After they have been rivals: Edwards relished her battles with ‘unbelievable bowler’ Jhulan Goswami. ‘I really feel very lucky now to work along with her [at Mumbai Indians] and, you already know, name her my pal,’ she says. | Picture credit score: Sandeep Saxena
What made you be a part of Mumbai Indians?
I don’t assume you may’t settle for a proposal from Mumbai Indians. , it was the one franchise that I needed to be a part of. Once I take into consideration the IPL, I consider the success Mumbai has had over time.
Had been you approached by another franchises as nicely?
Clearly, there was plenty of curiosity round that point. However Mumbai confirmed their curiosity fairly early. Issues moved fairly shortly.
We’re seeing plenty of youngsters making their debut on the WPL. And a few of them are getting huge cash, too.
The WPL has modified the women’ lives in India. It definitely is thrilling. We’re going to hopefully do much more over the subsequent few years, as a result of the sport is just going to get greater.
Coach’s dream: Nat Sciver-Brunt’s humility and work ethic make her a pleasure to coach with, says Edwards. | Picture credit score: Mumbai Indians
Girls’s cricket most likely didn’t look like it was going to be huge if you began out…
I needed to work alongside enjoying. All of the gamers within the England group have been amateurs. Once I made my debut in 1996, I paid for my very own blazer.
The sport reworked massively during the last 5 years or so. Once I was enjoying ten years in the past, you already know, the sport was transferring. I used to be knowledgeable cricketer again then. I feel there have been simply 15 professionals in England at the moment. It has been extraordinary actually to see the rise of the sport.
There wasn’t a lot of girls’s cricket once I started. I simply cherished the sport and performed with boys. Then, fortunately I discovered some ladies’s cricket after which my rise to the highest and enjoying for England occurred in a short time.
And earlier than lengthy, you hit that 173 not out in opposition to Eire within the 1997 World Cup at Pune.
It was a scorching day. And I managed to attain my highest worldwide rating on the tender age of 17.
What are your earliest recollections of cricket?
Enjoying within the again backyard with my brother, watching my dad play on a Saturday afternoon. , that was cricket for me. And now, I’m sitting in a dugout in India in the most effective competitors on this planet.
Bygone period: The ladies’s sport was very totally different when Edwards arrived on the scene in 1996. ‘All of the gamers within the England group have been amateurs,’ she says. ‘It has been extraordinary actually to see the rise of the sport.’ | Picture credit score: Getty Pictures
And your first Take a look at hundred was in opposition to India.
India is a particular place for me. I actually loved enjoying right here as a participant. And I cherished travelling across the nation as a participant. Now I get to do all of it once more as a coach.
One of the best Indians that you’ve performed in opposition to?
Jhulan Goswami. She was an unbelievable bowler and somebody I had plenty of good contests with over time. And I actually loved that. I really feel very lucky now to work along with her [as the bowling coach at Mumbai Indians] and get to know her, and, you already know, name her my pal.
As for the batters, there have been Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur [now the captain at MI]. Smriti Mandhana simply got here in earlier than I completed, however as soon as I noticed her play, I used to be like, wow, this woman goes to be so good. I get pleasure from watching her bat. And Yastika Bhatia just isn’t far behind. I additionally like to look at Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield.
You additionally performed with some sensible gamers within the England group, similar to the 2 Taylors, Claire and Sarah…
Claire Taylor was positively among the best I’ve performed with. Sarah was probably the most gifted participant, no doubt. A number of the issues she may do as a keeper was unbelievable and she or he has performed a number of the greatest innings I’ve seen. I used to be very lucky to play with some nice gamers again within the day and now I get to teach a number of the nice gamers, which is even higher.
You’ve got performed with and coached Nat Sciver-Brunt, who some contemplate the most effective feminine cricketer on this planet.
She is simply an unbelievable participant, but additionally an awesome particular person, a really humble particular person. Now we have had a good time along with her at MI. Even once I first noticed her, she had an unbelievable work ethic. So it’s no shock to me that she has gone on and executed nice issues within the sport and can proceed to do nice issues. I feel folks haven’t fairly given her the credit score for her bowling.
Greatest on this planet: As England captain, Edwards received two World Cup titles, throughout totally different codecs, in 2009. | Picture credit score: Getty Pictures
You have been the captain of England for 10 years. Profitable these two World Cups in 2009 will need to have been particular…
It would at all times be particular. To win the 50-over World Cup in Australia after which to win within the T20 again at residence at Lords — most likely no higher venue to do it. These have been very particular months actually for us as a facet. To be the captain of that group… these have been some implausible moments.
What’s the state of the ladies’s sport again residence now?
Actually constructive. Now we have gone to a county construction now. There are eight skilled county groups, with one other 10 skilled groups in Tier 2. And The Hundred has been nice for girls’s cricket, attracting household crowds.
Printed – March 01, 2025 12:14 on is
