Georgia Adams eager to keep Charlotte Edwards Cup in familiar home on Finals Day

By Sports Desk June 09, 2023

Georgia Adams hopes to continue ribbing Charlotte Edwards about keeping the trophy that bares her name at home as Southern Vipers go in search of more silverware this weekend.

The former England captain had an illustrious playing career and success has continued to follow her as head coach of a few domestic sides, including helping Vipers to Charlotte Edwards Cup glory last year.

Edwards’ side are into Finals Day on Saturday at New Road, where they will challenge Thunder at midday with the winners taking on group winners The Blaze later on in the T20 tournament showpiece.

“We’ve got the trophy and we don’t want to let it go,” Vipers captain Adams told the PA news agency. “We give Lottie a lot of stick about the cup being on her mantelpiece at home.”

As well as also winning the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy twice as head coach with the Vipers, Edwards inspired Mumbai Indians to the inaugural Women’s Premier League title in India earlier this year while her teams have finished runners-up in The Hundred in both seasons and the Women’s Big Bash League in Australia.

Asked to pinpoint the reasons for an enviable cricketing CV, Adams highlighted Edwards’ instincts for the game and her unwavering loyalty to the players at her disposal.

“She’s got a sixth sense for cricket,” Adams said. “She understands the game in ways that I’ve probably never known anyone else to be able to.

“Sometimes it’s not great when you’re sat on the sidelines watching with her. She’ll say ‘she’s about to get out’ and you’re like ‘no’ but you know it’s going to happen.

“She’s very good at people management, she’s very clear, she’s honest but in an appropriate manner and she backs you. You see with the teams she steps out to create, they don’t flit around too much.

“If you do have a bad day, you know she’s confident in your abilities and you don’t ever feel under too much pressure to prove your place because you know if you make it into her playing XI then she’s backing you all the way. Her player management is fantastic and we have a lot of fun.”

Vipers defeated Thunder last week during the eight-team group stage en route to finishing runners-up behind Blaze, who will be favourites in Worcestershire after winning all seven matches.

But Vipers will be boosted by the form of Adams, who has flourished since dropping down as opener to the middle order and racked up 228 runs at an average of 57 this season – second only to Bryony Smith’s haul (256).

England recognition has eluded Adams and the 29-year-old is firmly concentrating on matters at hand.

“All my career I’ve had one eye on England but I’ve been very aware it’s an incredibly tough side to get into,” she added.

“As captain of the Vipers, the role is getting quite big now with the professionalisation of the women’s game, that’s got to be my primary focus.”

Vipers will be able to call upon England centrally contracted trio Danni Wyatt, Charlie Dean and Freya Kemp on Saturday. Sophie Ecclestone and Emma Lamb are available for Thunder while Sarah Glenn and Tammy Beaumont can appear for Blaze.

There is no Kate Cross for Thunder or Nat Sciver-Brunt for Blaze as the pair are building their bowling loads for the start of the Ashes series later this month.

Related items

  • Louis and Athanaze lead West Indies recovery to close balanced opening day at 250-5 Louis and Athanaze lead West Indies recovery to close balanced opening day at 250-5

    Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze came heartbreakingly close to maiden Test centuries but fell in the nineties as the West Indies closed the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at 250-5 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Their 140-run partnership for the fourth wicket proved pivotal, turning the momentum firmly in favor of the hosts after early struggles.

    Louis, playing with patience and determination, was dismissed for 97 after spending 27 balls in the nineties. He charged at Bangladesh’s stand-in captain and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz but was caught at slip by Shahadat Hossain. Athanaze, who had been steadily accelerating, fell three overs later for 90, edging Taijul Islam behind. It marked the second time in Athanaze’s brief Test career that he had been dismissed in the nineties.

    The pair’s stand was the backbone of the West Indies innings, revitalizing the side after early setbacks. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell for 4, trapped lbw by Taskin Ahmed, and Keacy Carty departed soon after for a duck, caught at mid-on trying to flick Taskin. At 12-2, the West Indies were under pressure until Louis and Kavem Hodge steadied the ship.

     Hodge, who made 25, was run out after a brilliant throw from Taijul Islam at long leg. His dismissal brought Athanaze to the crease, and together with Louis, he set about rebuilding and eventually dominating the Bangladesh bowling attack.

     Louis reached his half-century with a straight drive off Taskin, showcasing his ability to punish loose deliveries amidst a largely cautious approach. Athanaze took a more aggressive route, particularly in the final session, finding the boundary with sweeps, reverse sweeps, and cuts as he raised the scoring rate.

     Louis’s innings included nine boundaries and a six, while Athanaze struck 12 fours and a six. Their contrasting styles complemented each other, as they added 140 runs at a brisk pace, frustrating Bangladesh’s bowlers, who had earlier kept the scoring rate in check.

     After their departures, Justin Greaves and Joshua Da Silva stabilized the innings against the second new ball. Greaves ended the day unbeaten, with Da Silva scoring freely in the closing overs before bad light and a drizzle brought an early end to proceedings after 84 overs.

     Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to capitalize on the early breakthroughs. Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the attack with figures of 2-46, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-45) and Taijul Islam (1-56) provided moments of control but lacked consistency. The fielding unit also let opportunities slip, including a dropped catch off Louis when he was in the nineties.

     The West Indies will resume on day two with five wickets in hand and an opportunity to push toward a commanding first-innings total. Bangladesh will look to capitalize on the breakthroughs late on day one and restrict the hosts in the morning session.

     For the West Indies, the day belonged to Louis and Athanaze, whose near-centuries not only steadied the innings but also put the team in a strong position as they aim to set the tone in the series.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Starc hails 'fantastic bowler' Bumrah after day one in Perth Starc hails 'fantastic bowler' Bumrah after day one in Perth

    Australia seamer Mitchell Starc heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah's performance on day one of their Test against India in Perth.

    India struggled with the bat and finished their first innings on 150, with Rishabh Pant (37) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) helping them to improve on a poor start.

    However, the tourists wrestled back control, leaving Australia on 67-7 at the close of play, thanks to Bumrah's inspired display.

    On Friday, 17 wickets fell, the most on the opening day of a Test in Australia since 1952.

    He finished on 4-17, leaving Australia 19-3 inside the seventh over as he took Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Steve Smith in quick succession.

    Starc will start at the crease alongside Alex Carey on day two, and he was impressed by Bumrah's efficiency with the ball.

    "So, there's no surprise that he's [Bumrah] been a fantastic bowler across the formats for a long time," Starc said.

    "And again, his skills were on show [on Friday] as to how, how good he is. So, yeah, I'm sure there's something in that release point.

    "That's significant to his action. It's something a lot of people can't do, so I'm not, I'm certainly not going to go and try it. I'll probably snap."

  • Archer back in IPL auction despite being left off the shortlist Archer back in IPL auction despite being left off the shortlist

    Jofra Archer will be in the IPL auction after all, having been left off the shortlist initially.

    The fast bowler was an entry on the longlist but did not appear among the names after it had been whittled down to 574 last week.

    There had been no word from Archer as to why he had pulled out of the auction and re-entered, although the prospect of playing in the IPL in future could have been key.

    According to new rules in the competition, a player will be ineligible to play in the IPL for two years if they do not enter the auction.

    Archer has struggled with injury since 2020 and has carefully worked his way back from an elbow problem he suffered last year. Having been part of England's white-ball set-up since May, he has a desire to get back into Test cricket.

    The 29-year-old has not played the longest form of the game in nearly four years and, if picked for the IPL, could find it harder to get back into it.

    With the early rounds of the County Championship season clashing with the IPL, it could harm Archer's ability to prove his fitness and reduce his chances of playing in a home Test in 2025. Additionally, he could also find it difficult to force his way in for the Ashes in Australia next winter.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.