West Indies prove no match for England but India await

England have been nothing short of dominant against the West Indies with their new-look leadership, now under the guidance of head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. Their confident whitewash in both the IT20 and ODI series has been the start of a much-needed redemption arc for the side that suffered a humiliating 16-0 loss to Australia in January.

- POLLY STARKIE

New players, a new ethos, and an injection of expertise have been the necessary antidote to the reputational damage endured across the winter months. Edwards has made her mark on this England team already. The former England skipper has an ability to reignite careers, make fascinating role changes and most importantly, win games.

Warwickshire’s Em Arlott, who made her IT20 and ODI debuts in this series, has been one of the success stories from the early stages of Edwards’ tenure. The 27-year-old took 10 wickets across the five games she featured in and will cause a selection headache for England.

Left-arm spinner Linsey Smith has been another positive for England. Since making her IT20 debut back in 2018, international opportunities have been scarce. Smith is one of the best county players, plying her trade at Hampshire where she has now bowled herself into England’s T20 and ODI side. Debuting in 50-over cricket at Derby, Smith finished with figures of 5/36 from her 10 overs, a statement performance from the 30-year-old.