An appreciation of Charlotte Edwards

So, Lottie has gone. The most famous English female cricketer of the era has called it a day and it will be interesting to see how the side which she has played in and guided since 1996 will fare without her presence and runs.

Charlotte Edwards made her international debut in July 1996 and, in the better part of twenty years at the highest level, has set innumerable records; 309 matches for England of which she captained 210, the most-ever by a female cricketer, after taking over from Clare Connor. A tough act to follow but both ladies have proved to be fantastic ambassadors to the sport. 10,273 runs over the three formats with the only surprise that another Englishwoman, Janette Brittin, being the only international lady cricketer to have scored more Test runs than Charlotte.

Had she been in the plans of the selectors this summer, Charlotte would have become the first lady cricketer to have scored 6000 ODI runs. Her international career spanned just a couple of months short of twenty years and her captaincy career five months shy of ten years. Indeed, after being just a player in her first two T20 matches, she captained England in her remaining ninety-three. Australia’s Belinda Clark, with 102 matches, is the only other international female cricketer to captain her country in over 100 ODIs: Lottie did so in 117 to comfortably lead the field.

Charlotte may be remembered as an attacking opening and top-order bat but she also proved herself to be a useful bowler as the figures below may suggest.

Charlotte has done as much off the field as on especially with a Chance to Shine and helping bringing younger girls into the game. She even came to our offices around fourteen years ago and very ably showed up some the very capable men in front of our office in a corridor. I felt best keeping out of it and not embarrassing myself...

Recent reports since Charlotte announced her retirement have suggested that ultimately her dream of women becoming professional saw the end of her remarkable tenure as batsman and captain. I find it a shame that she could not have a better exit but maybe the captain is only in charge on the field and that, as professionals, results are perhaps these days demanded more than expected. Only time will tell how much she will be missed..

CHARLOTTE EDWARDS IN FIGURES

TEST CRICKET
Matches
Inns
NO
Runs
Highest
Average
100
50
0
Overs
Maidens
Runs
Wkts
Best
Average
As player
23
43
5
1676
117
44.10
4
9
0
186.2
38
577
12
2-28
48.08
As captain
10
20
4
676
114*
42.25
2
3
0
50.1
10
141
3
2-34
47.00


ODIs
Matches
Inns
NO
Runs
Highest
Average
100
50
0
Overs
Maidens
Runs
Wkts
Best
Average
As player
191
180
23
5992
173*
38.16
9
46
16
271
17
1169
54
4-30
21.65
As captain
117
107
16
3523
138
38.71
5
28
9
222.2
12
978
14
4-30
23.85


T20
Matches
Inns
NO
Runs
Highest
Average
100
50
0
Overs
Maidens
Runs
Wkts
Best
Average
As player
95
93
14
2605
92*
32.97
0
12
3
50.3
0
330
9
3-21
36.67
As captain
93
91
14
2529
92*
32.84
0
12
3
46.3
0
295
9
3-21
32.77


TOTALS
Matches
Inns
NO
Runs
Highest
Average
100
50
0
Overs
Maidens
Runs
Wkts
Best
Average
As player
309
316
42
10273
173*
37.49
13
67
19
507.5
55
2076
75
4-30
27.68
As captain
220
218
34
6728
138
36.56
7
43
12
319
22
1414
53
4-30
26.67


CHARLOTTE EDWARDS CAPTAINCY RECORD
Played
Won
Lost
Draws
Tied
No result
Tests
10
2
4
4
0
0
ODIs
117
72
38
0
0
7
T20s
93
68
23
0
1
1
Totals
220
142
65
4
1
8