A new dawn has arrived for England’s women’s cricket team, with the legendary Charlotte Edwards stepping in as head coach. The former England captain, ICC Hall of Famer, and proven winner at both domestic and international levels is ready to turn things around, setting her sights on World Cup glory later this year.
Following England’s disappointing Ashes campaign against Australia, Jon Lewis stepped down as head coach, and long-time captain Heather Knight also departed. Edwards now takes the reins, promising a fresh start, renewed energy, and a squad built for success.
One of Edwards’ top priorities will be assembling a squad for the 50-over World Cup. She is determined to introduce fresh faces, giving young players the platform to showcase their talents in upcoming home series against the West Indies and India.
“We’ve got a lot of young players who, for me, haven’t played enough cricket, so I want them to experience playing more cricket, being put in those situations time and time again and earning your England cap,” Edwards stated at Lord’s.
She emphasized that no door is closed, ensuring opportunities for all. “The door is not shut to anyone and that’s going to be a strong message coming out today, but hopefully starting with the county season, that’s going to be a really positive thing.”
Edwards refuses to dwell on the past, instead focusing on what lies ahead. “I’m not going to talk too much about the past. For me, it’s all about the future and what I see is that we’ve got a really talented squad, and I think we’ve got some of the best players in the world, some really talented high-potential young players, which I’m looking forward to working with.”
High standards will be a cornerstone of Edwards’ tenure, with fitness and accountability playing a pivotal role. She is keen to ensure her players take charge of their own conditioning and readiness, “My first week is actually profiling next week, so I’m going to judge for myself about where the team is with their fitness. I will make the players more accountable for fitness, so that’s something I’m going to do,” she revealed.
Despite England’s struggles in the Ashes, Edwards firmly believes in their potential. “But there’s many aspects to this and I think the results from the winter, although 16-0 (against Australia in the Ashes), I know that we are closer to that than what that scoreline suggested. I wouldn’t have taken on this role if I didn’t think that, in six months’ time, we could win a World Cup in India. I think we’ve got the playing group to do that.”
Edwards is eager to appoint a new captain before England faces the West Indies on May 22. Long-time vice-captain Nat Sciver-Brunt is the frontrunner, but off-spinner Charlie Dean and top-ranked white-ball bowler Sophie Ecclestone are also strong contenders.
Regardless of the leadership decision, Edwards’ mission is clear: to win. “They’ve had this mantra of entertaining and inspiring over the last little bit, and I think it’s probably just changing their focus,” she explained.
Winning remains non-negotiable for Edwards. “I’m under no illusions. I’ve come into this role, it’s about winning. I think coaches are sometimes too scared to say we want to win. That’s our job. My job is to win games of cricket, and I think it’s how we go and do that now.”
“That looks different on each given day, and I just want to create some intelligent players who win games of cricket for England, and that’s going to be how I’ll go about stuff over the next few weeks and try and instil that within the players.”
Edwards’ coaching credentials are unmatched. Under her leadership, the Southern Vipers have been dominant in women’s domestic cricket, clinching five trophies across Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (2020, 2021 and 2023) and Charlotte Edwards Cup (2022 and 2023). She transformed the Southern Brave into a powerhouse in The Hundred, guiding them to consecutive finals in 2021 and 2022 before securing the title in 2023.
Her success extended globally, coaching the Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League and leading them to a record-breaking 11 group-stage wins in her debut season. In the Women’s Premier League, she masterminded Mumbai Indians’ two championship triumphs (2023, 2025) and a third-place finish in 2024.
As a player, Edwards was an icon. From 1996 to 2016, she amassed 1,676 Test runs at an average of 44.10, 5,992 WODI runs at 38.16 (with nine centuries), and 2,605 WT20I runs at 32.97. Her bowling prowess earned her 54 WODI wickets, with a best of 4/30. A reliable fielder, she also took 78 career catches.
With her wealth of experience, tactical acumen, and hunger for victory, Charlotte Edwards is set to redefine England’s women’s cricket. The road to the World Cup begins now, and under her leadership, England is ready to rise again.
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