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CHARLOTTE Edwards believes today’s Women’s World T20 final between England and Australia will be a close affair.
England, who won the tournament on home soil in 2009, beat Australia by seven wickets in the group stages. But captain Edwards told BBC Sport: “The teams are pretty evenly matched and it’s who hold their nerve and do the basics really well (who will win).
“It’s the perfect final for us. They are the defending champions and we want to beat the best to win this trophy.”
England beat Pakistan by 43 runs in their opening match of the tournament in Sri Lanka, while Edwards became the first woman to score 1 500 runs in international T20 matches in a nine-wicket victory over India.
Twenty-year-old Sarah Taylor is the second-highest run-scorer on the list, having scored 21 not out in the seven-wicket semi-final win over New Zealand to reach 1 200 runs, while she hit 65 in the final group game win over Australia.
However, 2010 champions Australia have impressive fast bowler Ellyse Perry in their ranks, a 21-year-old who has taken 42 wickets in her 40 T20 matches to date – including a return of 4-20 on her debut against England in 2008.
“The best two teams are in the final so hopefully it will be a good one,” Edwards continued.
“These occasions are massive for women’s cricket so there is the pressure there that we want to expose the game in the right light.
“In a pressurised situation we’ve got to keep it as simple as possible and were not going to over-egg the game, it’s just another game of cricket but it’s England versus Australia which will bring an extra edge.
“The younger girls are chomping at the bit while the older girls are a little nervous because they know what to expect.
“We just want them to go out and enjoy the occasion.”
Teams (from) England: Charlotte Edwards (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Arran Brindle, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Lydia Greenway, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt
Australia: Jodie Fields (captain), Alex Blackwell, Nicola Carey, Lauren Ebsary, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Lisa Sthalekar. (BBC Sport)
England, who won the tournament on home soil in 2009, beat Australia by seven wickets in the group stages. But captain Edwards told BBC Sport: “The teams are pretty evenly matched and it’s who hold their nerve and do the basics really well (who will win).
“It’s the perfect final for us. They are the defending champions and we want to beat the best to win this trophy.”
England beat Pakistan by 43 runs in their opening match of the tournament in Sri Lanka, while Edwards became the first woman to score 1 500 runs in international T20 matches in a nine-wicket victory over India.
Twenty-year-old Sarah Taylor is the second-highest run-scorer on the list, having scored 21 not out in the seven-wicket semi-final win over New Zealand to reach 1 200 runs, while she hit 65 in the final group game win over Australia.
However, 2010 champions Australia have impressive fast bowler Ellyse Perry in their ranks, a 21-year-old who has taken 42 wickets in her 40 T20 matches to date – including a return of 4-20 on her debut against England in 2008.
“The best two teams are in the final so hopefully it will be a good one,” Edwards continued.
“These occasions are massive for women’s cricket so there is the pressure there that we want to expose the game in the right light.
“In a pressurised situation we’ve got to keep it as simple as possible and were not going to over-egg the game, it’s just another game of cricket but it’s England versus Australia which will bring an extra edge.
“The younger girls are chomping at the bit while the older girls are a little nervous because they know what to expect.
“We just want them to go out and enjoy the occasion.”
Teams (from) England: Charlotte Edwards (captain), Tammy Beaumont, Arran Brindle, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Lydia Greenway, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt
Australia: Jodie Fields (captain), Alex Blackwell, Nicola Carey, Lauren Ebsary, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Julie Hunter, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Lisa Sthalekar. (BBC Sport)
