England women’s newly appointed head coach Charlotte Edwards couldn’t have asked for a stronger start to her tenure, as her team completed a dominant 3-0 T20I series win over West Indies. The campaign was marked by all-round excellence from England and a brilliant solo showing from Windies captain Hayley Matthews, who was named Player of the Series. With the ODI series looming and the World Cup on the horizon, Edwards is using every opportunity to shape her squad.
The third and final T20I on May 26 offered the sternest challenge of the series, with England securing a 17-run win. Heather Knight fought through a hamstring injury to score an unbeaten 66. She and Nat Sciver-Brunt, who added a crucial 37, powered England to 144/5. Matthews once again impressed, taking 3/32 and later hammering 71 off 54 balls in a valiant chase. However, England’s bowlers stood firm—Lauren Bell, Emily Arlott, Linsey Smith, and Charlotte Dean took two wickets apiece to ensure the clean sweep.
Reflecting on the series, Edwards expressed satisfaction with how her players executed under pressure, “I think first and foremost we wanted to win the series 3-0 and I am really happy with that.”
She acknowledged the threat posed by Hayley Matthews and praised her bowlers’ composure, “I think we have been put under pressure by Hayley Matthews, and I have been really pleased with how the bowlers have reacted.”
She was also thrilled with the aggressive mindset shown by the batters, “I have been so impressed with the batting unit, I have told them to be ruthless and when they get the opportunity to win games, to win them. I think we have done all of that.”
Commenting on the final match, she lauded the team’s ability to fight and adapt, “This was a slightly tougher day for us but the way we navigate our way through with the bat, got ourselves a score, and executed brilliantly with the ball…..I was really impressed with us fighting and getting to a defendable score.”
The series began with a thrilling opener on May 23. Hayley Matthews scored a magnificent unbeaten 100 from 67 balls, lifting West Indies to 146/7. Despite the fireworks, she lacked support—Mandy Mangru’s 17 was the next-best score. England responded with calm authority. Sophia Dunkley top-scored with an unbeaten 81, supported by Knight’s 43*, as England chased the target with 21 balls to spare. Bell (2/29) and Smith (1/18) bowled tightly to keep the visitors in check.
In the second T20I, England unleashed Emily Arlott, who tore through the West Indies batting with a spectacular spell of 3/14—including three wickets in seven balls. West Indies crumbled to 81/9, with Campbelle’s 26 the only resistance. Nat Sciver-Brunt made light work of the chase, smashing 55* from 30 balls in a nine-wicket win.
Having recalled both Arlott and Issy Wong to the squad, Edwards highlighted how pleased she was with their return, “I am looking at every way we can improve. This is my first series with this team, and I am trying to learn about players and roles.”
She endorsed both players’ return to international cricket, “I think they deserve their opportunities to get back into this England team. I am really impressed with Wong.”
Her admiration for Arlott’s seamless transition was evident, “Arlott, we have all seen her in domestic cricket and how good she has been but to come here and look really at ease in international cricket is really pleasing.”
With the World Cup a year away, she’s encouraging players to adapt to current conditions, “We have obviously got a World Cup in 12 months’ time in T20I cricket which is really important. But I want the players to play the conditions they are in, and I think they did that.”
With multiple players performing strongly, Edwards addressed how she’s managing squad selection, “There are a number of our players who have got currency in the bank in terms of their performances… Bell was unbelievable with the ball. Arlott the previous game—you can see this competition forming and Lauren Filer sat on the bench. These are exciting times.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming 50-over matches, which begin May 30, Edwards made it clear these ODIs will be central to World Cup preparations, “I feel these games are really big for us. We have probably got nine games before the World Cup starts so a lot of this is going to be about us getting the right balance of team.”
With Nat Sciver-Brunt unable to bowl this summer due to an Achilles issue, Edwards sees this as a chance to assess alternative options, “Nat won’t be bowling in this series, and she probably isn’t going to bowl for the summer. She has got a bit of an Achilles issue, and we want her fit and firing for the World Cup.”
That means experimentation will be key, “It gives her a good opportunity to look at other options. We know we have got those options if and when Nat comes back to bowl.”
As England head into the ODIs with momentum, the team appears to be responding well to Edwards’ blueprint—marked by clarity, confidence, and competitive edge.
Full Series Schedule (Timings in IST)
T20I Series:
1st T20I – May 21 – Canterbury – 11:00 PM – England won by 8 wickets
2nd T20I – May 23 – Hove – 11:05 PM – England won by 9 wickets
3rd T20I – May 26 – Chelmsford – 07:00 PM – England won by 17 runs
ODI Series:
1st ODI – May 30 – Derby – 05:30 PM
2nd ODI – June 4 – Leicester – 05:30 PM
3rd ODI – June 7 – Taunton – 03:30 PM
(Quotes sourced from Sky Sports)
