New Delhi, Oct 1 (NationPress) England's head coach Charlotte Edwards is confident that her team has achieved the right equilibrium as they gear up for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. She emphasizes that recent performances indicate they are “on the right track” as they look forward to their first match against South Africa in Indore this Friday.

“The players are responding exceptionally well, particularly to a subtle change in style,” Edwards shared with ESPNCricinfo. “We’ve seen positive results over the past four matches. While we are staying grounded, we recognize we’re on the right path and are progressing well into the first game.”

England has had a robust lead-up, winning all four warm-up matches in Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru, including a significant 153-run victory over co-hosts India and a four-wicket win against the defending champions Australia. Edwards highlighted that the team is drawing confidence not just from the outcomes but from their style of play. “There’s no such thing as a friendly against international opponents, so we believe we’ve gained confidence, not just from the results but also from how we’ve performed. I feel we’re positioned quite well.”

Central to their preparations is the return of Heather Knight, who scored 41 off 48 balls in her first match since recovering from a hamstring tear in May. “She’s crucial to our success out here,” Edwards stated about her former captain. Meanwhile, Nat Sciver-Brunt, the current captain, showcased her skills with a commanding 120 off 104 against India and proved she could still contribute with the ball despite an Achilles issue. “Nat’s ready to contribute. She’s been training hard and we anticipate getting ten overs from her,” Edwards commented, adding, “Nat enjoys bowling, which positively impacts her batting.”

Edwards also praised the strength of England’s spin attack: “We are fortunate to have four of the best spinners in world cricket. My coaching experience here shows that spin plays a significant role, even in T20 and WPL cricket.”

Fielding, a long-standing concern, has also been emphasized. “You’ll be glad to know our fielding has significantly improved, which was a focus area. Under pressure, the players have performed admirably.” Edwards reiterated her forward-thinking approach: “I haven’t dwelled on the past. It’s all about moving forward with this group now. We’ve fostered an environment where accountability is key, and we have a clear vision of how we want to play.”

She concluded with hopeful anticipation: “I believe that this clarity will assist our team under pressure, as we leave no stone unturned in our preparation. The indicators have been very encouraging in terms of progress over the last six months. I’m optimistic we can carry this momentum onto the big stage.”