How Edwards and Sciver-Brunt put England back on track

England are on the verge of a remarkable turnaround eight months after the humiliation of the Ashes.

Their first goal has been met, and Charlotte Edwards, the women’s world cup coach, has her lowest expectations for the semi-finals. However, they now have the final goal in mind.

England’s semi-final against South Africa on Wednesday is a repeat of their opening matchup against South Africa, where they defeated the Proteas for a score of just 69 in a dramatic victory. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side are favorites to face either India or Australia in Sunday’s showpiece.

England have been good on the field without yet being great (although their middle-order batting is a known weakness), but the turnaround is gaining momentum with the addition of a new leadership duo.

After being thoroughly outplayed by Australia last winter, England’s skill set was also under scrutiny and harsh scrutiny like never before.

The West Indies’ embarrassing group-stage exit in the T20 World Cup followed that humiliating hammering down under, but those same criticisms have not been made again this campaign.

This team is now Edwards’ England, despite some bumps in the road over the summer and some close calls in these group stages.

Edwards has a habit of winning.

In 2013/14, she led England to victories at 50 overs, the T20 World Cup, and the Ashes. Her Southern Brave won The Hundred in 2023 as a coach, and in its inaugural season, she led the Mumbai Indians to their first-ever Women’s Premier League title.

Her coaching approach to England has become increasingly explicit about ensuring that people are fully aware of their responsibilities once they have crossed the line.

The “inspire and entertain” mantra did not work for everyone under Lewis, and it became ambiguous, especially for younger players who had not yet cracked 50-over cricket due to their lack of experience.

When asked how England’s approach to ODIs had changed since the winter, Sciver-Brunt explained to BBC Sport, “The squad isn’t too different but the clarity of role that everyone has, and the skills that they’ve developed to perform that role have really shifted.”

“Everyone taking that responsibility and accountability, what they want to work on, and what they want to achieve,” I’ve been really impressed.

After such a difficult tour, it was obvious that England needed that structure and guidance to regain its course, so they retreated to basics.

With a number of years of working together at the Vipers, Linsey Smith is a prime example of Edwards’ influence on the team.

Smith excels in her role as England’s powerplay player, which she did in county cricket, and she does so without being overly flashy. She bowls very straight, rarely leaves the stumps, and cannily drifts the ball into the right-hander with great accuracy.

At Hampshire and the Vipers, Charlie Dean was a player who played under Edwards’ wing before the World Cup, and he was appointed vice-captain.

“I am familiar with Edwards’ style, and it seems like we are actually getting into the game’s details,” Dean said.

We’re attempting to bring out the best in each other’s performances. Every coach has their own ideas, and when you buy into them, a team really shines.

Their batting focuses on building an innings, going for it, and going as deep as they can, again removing Lewis’ aggression while highlighting Edwards’ commitment to winning regardless of how it comes.

World Cup winner Alex Hartley stated on the BBC Test Match Special podcast that “England have been finding ways to win,” which is what is currently entertaining.

Players frequently use the phrases “passionate” and “competitive” when describing Edwards. You’ll typically hear “calm and collected” for Sciver-Brunt.

Fast bowler Lauren Bell praised Sciver-Brunt’s on-field calmness and said “no stone is left unturned” in the duo’s preparation.

Because Sciver-Brunt’s leadership style requires her to lead from the front with her performances, which she has done in the past few years as a senior player, Edwards helps to balance their captaincy as skipper, batter, bowler, and new mother.

Edwards’ planning is thorough. She rarely appears without her tablet or notepad for strategising, mainly while checking into hotels with the team and strolling through airports.

She also enjoys watching all other group-stage games, admitting that she has been glued to the television all her evenings.

Sciver-Brunt does not take a backseat to their relationship, which allows them to benefit from each other’s strengths and for the all-rounder to be England’s star performer. She encourages the others to follow her when they do so.

It’s been a great experience working with her during this World Cup because she has a lot of cricket knowledge and a lot of passion for the England women’s side, Sciver-Brunt continued.

She also exhibits significant differences from her time as a player. Being a coach allows you to see things from the outside and observe how different people work and how different people are interested in their work.

It’s been really helpful to use her insight into what being a player is and how that feels.

It is interesting in contrast to Heather Knight, Sciver-Brunt’s predecessor, who has been outstanding batting since returning to the ranks but who spoke out openly before the tournament about the potential impact of captaincy.

Knight described it as being “all-encompassing,” noting that she had nine years to stay in the role she had held.

One of the game’s most enduring figures is Edwards, a talisman of English cricket. She is well-versed in media and unfraid to speak up when things don’t go her way, which was a challenging aspect of her position that Knight frequently found challenging.

However, this World Cup semi-final offers Sciver-Brunt a significant opportunity to quell the controversy surrounding England’s ability to perform under pressure, which reached a boiling point in the United Arab Emirates last year when she was forced to take the captaincy for the second innings due to Knight’s injury.

The team has a more subdued sense of confidence, but they will likely want to rule the field.