Winning is a habit for Edwards.
As a captain, she led England to 50-over and T20 World Cup wins and Ashes triumphs in 2013-14. As a coach, her Southern Vipers dominated the women’s domestic scene in the UK, Southern Brave won The Hundred in 2023 and she won the Women’s Premier League in India with Mumbai Indians in its inaugural season.
What has become clear in her coaching style with England has been her insistence in role clarity, ensuring that individuals are fully aware of their responsibilities once they cross the boundary rope.
Under Lewis, the ‘inspire and entertain’ mantra did not suit everyone, and it became muddled – particularly with younger players who, purely through lack of experience, had not yet cracked 50-over cricket.
“Personnel-wise, the squad isn’t too different but the clarity of role that everybody has, and the skills that they’ve developed to perform that role, has really shifted,” Sciver-Brunt told BBC Sport, when asked about how England’s approach to ODIs had changed since the winter.
“I’ve been really impressed with everybody taking that accountability and responsibility and what they want to work on, and what they want to get out of themselves.”
It was clear that after such a tough tour, England needed that structure and guidance to get back on track, and they have gone back to basics.
Linsey Smith is a prime example of Edwards’ influence on the team, having worked together at the Vipers for several years.
Smith is England’s powerplay weapon, a role she fulfilled in county cricket, and she is effective without being overly flashy – she bowls very straight, rarely leaving the stumps and cannily drifts the ball into the right-hander with great effect.
Charlie Dean is another player who was under Edwards’ wing at Hampshire and the Vipers, and was appointed vice-captain before the World Cup.
“I know her [Edwards’] style and it feels like we’re really going into the nuances of the game now,” said Dean.
“We’re trying to bring out really gritty performances and the best out of each other. I think every coach comes with their own ideas and when you buy into it, that’s when a team really flies.”
Their batting focuses on building an innings, batting for time and taking the game as deep as possible, again moving away from Lewis’ aggression while highlighting Edwards’ focus on winning regardless of how it comes.
“England have been finding ways to win, and that is what is entertaining now,” World Cup winner Alex Hartley said on the BBC Test Match Special podcast.
“There have been some of those games where they have scraped over the line, but now it’s about them doing it when they are under pressure.”
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