Edwards relishing captaincy challenge

Charlotte Edwards is, as any good captain should be, relishing the challenge of leading England after being named Clare Connor's successor earlier this week.

Edwards has already proven that she can do the job, having stepped in during this winter's tour of the subcontinent where, in her first outing as deputy, she took her team to a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka. England then drew the only Test against India.

They lost the one-dayers 4-1, but Edwards is confident they can reverse that result on home soil when India visit this summer. "We're looking for a bit of pay-back against India," she told the Peterborough Evening News. "We have a really strong team at the moment."

England head coach Richard Bates said: "She has a very good understanding of the game and I'm sure we will take us to the next level." That next level will be the World Cup where England will aim to improve on their semi-final placing in the 2005 tournament in South Africa. "My long-term aim is to lift the 2009 World Cup, and of course retain the Ashes and bring them from Australia."