ENGLAND’S women face a lengthy lay-off from international duty after today’s Twenty20 double-header at Edgbaston. They will not see action again until February when they tour New Zealand.
But for three of their leading stars, there is no let-up: Charlotte Edwards, Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor leave shortly to play for Australian state sides in a move designed to enhance the chances of the Ashes being retained next summer.
Following consultations with the England management, Edwards has been cleared to captain Western Australia, while Knight and Taylor will respectively represent Tasmania and South Australia in what is probably the strongest domestic system in the women’s game.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Taylor is keen to play as much as possible after today’s final Twenty20 against South Africa (England hold a winning 2-0 lead in the series). “Personally, I know I’m better off if I keep playing,” she said. “I try and build up form and run with it. I’ll be out in Australia for several months and go from there to New Zealand. Internationally, the next two years after that is full-on but that’s fine by me.”
Taylor’s summer has been disrupted courtesy of the lingering effects of a cyst on the back of her knee, which meant she had to manage her playing commitments outside internationals.
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She expects to keep wicket for South Australia as well as coach on non-match days. “It’s going to be a massive challenge and one I’m looking forward to. Keeping wicket is different — the movement of the ball is different and you have to stand higher.”
Although England won the multi-format Ashes home and away in the past year, Australia’s success at the World Twenty20 reinforced the impression that there was room for improvement in the way England play their one-day cricket, and steps have been taken to enhance their hitting capabilities.
“We’re all getting stronger and you could see that in the hitting of Charlotte [Edwards] and Lauren Winfield at Northampton [in the second Twenty20 against South Africa]. Charlotte got close to clearing the ropes a number of times. In the next 12 to 18 months, I think you will see us hit quite a few more sixes.”
Winfield and Edwards hit nine fours in the six-over power-play at Northampton and England will need more of that if they are to keep in touch with Australia. A winter of reconnaissance Down Under will not do any harm either.