GUWAHATI, INDIA – OCTOBER 07: Lauren Bell of England is congratulated by team mate Nat Sciver-Brunt after taking the catch to dismiss Marufa Akter of Bangladesh (not pictured) during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between England and Bangladesh at Barsapara Cricket Stadium on October 07, 2025 in Guwahati, India. (Photo by Matt Roberts-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
ICC via Getty Images
Ahead of their opening fixture against South Africa in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup at Guwahati, England captain Natalie Sciver-Brunt told the BBC that things on and off the field had improved since the 16-0 whitewash in the Ashes. It was a low bar to clear.
Based on the first three fixtures of the World Cup, things have improved. Sciver-Brunt’s team sit top of the table on Saturday. There are imperfections. However, the vibe is better and the victories are coming.
The skipper led the way against Sri Lanka, taking charge of the situation by scoring a hundred and getting a total of over 250 that would prove too much for the opposition in Colombo. Heather Knight, the former leader, also put her hand up against Bangladesh in the previous game when it looked like England could lose from a position of strength.
New coach bounce can bring new luck and focus. Knight was given out three times in her unbeaten knock of 79 against the Tigresses, and Sciver-Brunt was put down very early in her stay on Saturday. However, Charlotte Edwards must have had a few honest conversations with the players and staff to induce a turnaround. From the green shoots of a whitewash over the West Indies in the summer, the legendary ex-opener is now overseeing a change in the controllables.
Attitude, fitness, and self-reflection are elements that were not always on show in the winter. In India, the 2017 champions have taken 15 out of 16 catches. They made dropped catches an art form in the T20 World Cup, dropping five against the West Indies in a must-win game. They also grounded eight on the second day of the one-off Test at the MCG.
The list of excuses from former coach Jon Lewis started to influence Knight in her press conferences, and had a knock-on effect on the morale of the team. They kept insisting that there was not much between the teams. The score-line said 16-0.
Sophie Ecclestone was singled out during the winter for refusing to give former teammate Alex Hartley, working in her capacity as a broadcaster, an interview. Whatever the context, it was a bad look for a team that was struggling to be competitive on the pitch. Acting aloof without the back-up of victory was a difficult one to pull off when the wheels were coming off.
Ecclestone was the other star of the show against Sri Lanka with figures of four for 17.The spinner is the leading women’s ODI bowler by some distance and Sciver-Brunt is the No. 2 in the batting ranks. Those two lead from the front, but Edwards is looking to get more out of the rest.
“I think we’ve got to look at our ODI game. I think that’s probably an area that we’ve underperformed in for a while,” said Edwards in May. There was no mincing of words or fear about upsetting established players. Kate Cross didn’t get a central contract. Danni Wyatt-Hodge is not opening at the moment.
Edwards knows all about Indian conditions, having coached the Mumbai Indians in the WPL, and she threw a curveball to some by choosing Linsey Smith, who ended up taking 3-7 against South Africa. Charlie Dean has also stepped up with valuable wickets and runs after being a bit-part player for too long.
DERBY, ENGLAND – MAY 30: England Head coach Charlotte Edwards speaks to Nat Sciver-Bruntes,Captain of England ahead of the 1st Women’s Metro Bank ODI match between England and West Indies at The County Ground on May 30, 2025 in Derby, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Getty Images
At the moment, the old heads of Tammy Beaumont, Knight and Sciver-Brunt are doing most of the run-scoring. Alice Capsey, Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb will be keen to come to the party. They will need to, because World Cups are not won with three or four players.
“I think, with this group now, we’ve created an environment where it’s about taking accountability and we’ve got real clarity on how we want to play the game,” said Edwards before the tournament began. The excuse factory has been shut down. England’s women cricketers might lose matches, but there will be no fantasy about why it happened.
Disclaimer: This news has been automatically collected from the source link above. Our website does not create, edit, or publish the content. All information, statements, and opinions expressed belong solely to the original publisher. We are not responsible or liable for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any news, nor for any statements, views, or claims made in the content. All rights remain with the respective source.