England players must be 'accountable for their fitness', says Edwards

Charlotte Edwards has promised to make England's players "more accountable for their fitness" as she seeks to improve the team's fortunes after her appointment as women's head coach.

- Simon Burnton

The 45-year-old insisted that despite England women's recent troubles against Australia they were capable of winning this year's 50-over World Cup in India, saying she was "really confident we can turn things around very quickly". Jon Lewis was sacked as coach last month after a miserable winter in which group-stage elimination at the T20 World Cup was followed by a 16-0 rout in the Ashes.

Clare Connor, the England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director of England women, led a "very thorough, comprehensive and honest" review of that series which "told us that we did need a significant reset in terms of leadership and the environment".

The ECB chose to abandon its normal open recruitment process once it became clear that Edwards, who since retiring as a player had enjoyed success as a coach with Hampshire, Mumbai Indians and Sydney Sixers, would accept the job.