England Aims for Enjoyment with High-Quality Cricket: Corteen-Coleman

New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) As the 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup approaches, left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman expressed that England aims to enjoy themselves while engaging in high-quality and competitive cricket. England previously secured the runner-up position in the 2023 edition after a defeat against India in the final held at Potchefstroom, South Africa.

"Our team is focused on enjoying our time on the field while ensuring that we play high-quality and competitive cricket. We have adopted a team motto: ‘evolve, embrace, enjoy’ – which signifies our commitment to evolving, facing challenges head-on, and enjoying our journey. Every match will reflect these core values.

"Our ultimate goal is to secure victory. During the last U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, I was still in school and could not follow every match, but I cheered for my peers. It was disappointing that they didn’t clinch the title, yet they showcased some truly exhilarating cricket,” Tilly remarked, as reported by ICC.

Tilly gained recognition in 2024 after achieving the remarkable feat of taking four wickets in four consecutive balls during the Charlotte Edwards Cup for South East Stars. She also became the youngest player and wicket-taker in the history of The Hundred women’s competition. Influenced by her older brother Hugo, Tilly’s cricketing journey began near Kent’s home ground in Canterbury.

Under the guidance of her under-11s coach, David Sear, Tilly transitioned from seam bowling to spin, progressing through Kent’s development programs and learning from cricket legends such as Laura Marsh, Lydia Greenway, Charlotte Edwards, and Tammy Beaumont.

“I began my cricket journey at my local club, St Lawrence and Highland Court, at the age of six. I was inspired to play because I wanted to match my brother’s skills. Our competitive nature drove me to excel in the sport.

“From early on, I was determined to pursue cricket. I vividly recall a careers day in junior school where I dressed as a cricketer, signifying my dreams,” she shared.

A last-minute invitation to South East Stars’ pre-season tour in Abu Dhabi in 2024 marked a turning point in Tilly's cricketing path. “I was completely taken by surprise. I feel fortunate and grateful for the opportunities I received last season. At that time, I hadn’t even played a match for South East Stars when I was invited on the pre-season tour.

“I later traveled to Sri Lanka as part of the England U19s squad, which was an incredible experience. That’s when I received the call from Lottie (Charlotte Edwards) regarding my selection for Southern Brave. Everything unfolded rapidly from there. A few weeks later, I was offered a pay-as-you-play contract by Surrey (formerly South East Stars), which was truly remarkable.

After her stunning achievement of four wickets in four deliveries against the Northern Diamonds, Tilly’s first wicket in The Hundred was the renowned former Australian captain Meg Lanning, a moment she never imagined.

“Honestly, I didn’t realize I was on a hat-trick or had taken four in a row until the last wicket of the game. I celebrated with my team, and they pointed out the big screen. It was an unexpected yet fantastic moment.

“Participating in The Hundred was extraordinary, and I am immensely grateful to Lottie for the opportunity and to be part of such a talented team. Competing on such a grand stage with enthusiastic crowd support exceeded my expectations. Securing Meg Lanning as my first wicket, especially through a caught and bowled, was even more thrilling.

“The entire experience of The Hundred and achieving my first wicket was exhilarating. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of players to share this journey with. Although I knew a few teammates, most were unfamiliar to me, yet they were welcoming, and I felt supported throughout. Playing in every match, with Lottie placing her trust in me, made it an unforgettable experience,” she concluded.