“It’s been the most unbelievable six weeks I’ve had in cricket,” says Charlotte Edwards, fresh off the plane after the victory with Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League final on Sunday and about to head straight into a coaching session with Southern Vipers.
This 48-hour turnaround may sound like a comedown after Nat Sciver‑Brunt sealed a seven‑wicket win against Delhi Capitals at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, but Edwards is buzzing. “I just love it,” she says, before heading to the Ageas Bowl. “Maybe the players will be happy to see me… maybe not.”
Given a record of 62 wins from 78 matches as head coach of Southern Vipers, Southern Brave, Sydney Sixers and Mumbai Indians in recent years, it is fair to assume the former is probably the case. Not content with a glittering playing career – more than 10,000 international runs and two World Cups – the 43-year-old is clearly doing plenty right.
On a personal level, the silverware at the end of the inaugural WPL was overdue. Although the Vipers have won the, ahem, Charlotte Edwards Cup and two editions of the 50-over Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, her teams finished runners-up in the Hundred (twice) and, in Australia, the Women’s Big Bash League. But while Delhi rallied from 79 for nine to post a target of 132 and Mumbai lost two early wickets, Sciver-Brunt’s nerveless unbeaten 60 meant this was just a wobble.
Sciver-Brunt rightly took the plaudits on a dizzying night in Mumbai and Edwards fancies this was an important staging post in the all-rounder’s career after a record £320,000 deal in February’s auction. “I sent her a message yesterday saying how well she dealt with the price tag. She was hugely professional, but also really humble,” says Edwards.
“That was a big moment for her, to get her team over the line. England have been close a few times, but to win a tournament with Nat at the forefront, I’m nothing but pleased for her.”
Compiling a squad from scratch at auction was a new experience for Edwards, with Hayley Matthews – a cut-price £40,000 – described as “the best piece of business in the competition” after ending up as the WPL’s leading wicket-taker with 16. Edwards also praises the work of the assistant coaches Jhulan Goswami and Devika Palshikar in identifying the ideal domestic Indian cricketers to play under their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur.
If there was one player for whom Edwards stuck her neck out it was Issy Wong, despite being overlooked by England for the T20 World Cup that preceded the WPL. Secured for £30,000, the 20‑year‑old fast bowler lit up the eliminator (semi-final) last Friday when her hat-trick scuttled UP Warriorz, and sent the Mumbai crowd into a frenzy and soon went viral on social media.
“Just talking about it gives me goosebumps,” says Edwards. “I sort of knew it would happen. I was just staring at the stumps for that third ball, with the crowd chanting ‘Wongy, Wongy’. It was one of my top moments in cricket.
“Before the auction I wanted her because if there was one player who would deal with the situation it was Issy Wong. And she delivered. She was born to play in front of that many people. She just has no fear, wants to bowl quickly, entertain and is an X-factor player.
“Not being in that England squad, I had to tell people at Mumbai she’s going to be good. They watched her in the first warm-up and could see instantly what I had seen. That’s something England may well regret because we’ve seen what she’s done on the biggest stage in India.”
Edwards says lifting players such as Sciver-Brunt, Kaur and Wong after their World Cup disappointments and gelling a team at short notice was one of the early challenges for the coaching staff. But despite working for one of the teams in the global Mumbai Indians franchise, owned by the wealthy Ambani family, there was no pressure from above.
“I just felt honored by their backing,” says Edwards. “I had huge beef up from Mrs. [Nita] Ambani. It might sound like a cliche, however you in point of fact felt a part of their circle of relatives. We went to her space as a squad and would have film nights of their non-public cinema. They simply love their cricket and it in point of fact introduced us in combination as a squad.”
Edwards believes the primary version of the WPL is simply step one for a match that may simplest develop, with the early crowds and viewing figures already vindicating the funding. For a participant comparable to Wong, it might have given England an almighty variety nudge within the lead-up to this summer season’s Ashes too.
As for her personal profession, Edwards feels vindicated for her determination to withdraw from the race to transform England head trainer final yr. She sought after to additional her home enjoy first, however for the ones questioning, sure, the location stays on her long-term radar.
Asked about her taste of training, she says: “You can simplest cross with what the avid gamers say. They’re those who are living and breathe what you might be doing. But I suppose I’m just right at bringing other folks in combination, I’m a other folks particular person and I’m lovely comfy with it.
“There’s an edge to me, despite the fact that. I’m a winner. I completely need to trainer the world over and that may are available the following few years. That’s without equal function.”
With that it is time to reunite with her Southern Vipers players and start preparing for the English summer. But one fancies that ultimate goal may well become a reality at some stage.