\u201cThe players are really responding well, certainly to a slight change of style,\u201d Edwards was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying. \u201cHopefully, we\u2019ve seen the results over the last four games, which have been really positive. We\u2019re not getting carried away, don\u2019t worry, but we know that we\u2019re on the right track and we\u2019re tracking really well moving into the first game.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
England have enjoyed a strong build-up, winning all four warm-ups in Abu Dhabi and Bengaluru, including a 153-run thrashing of co-hosts India and a four-wicket win against defending champions Australia. Edwards stressed the team had taken confidence from not just the results but also the manner of play. \u201cThere\u2019s never a friendly against an international opposition, so I think we\u2019ve taken a lot of confidence, not necessarily around the result, but the way we\u2019ve played. I feel we\u2019re really nicely placed.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Central to their preparations has been the return of Heather Knight, who made 41 off 48 in her first outing since tearing her hamstring in May. \u201cShe\u2019s vital to our success out here,\u201d Edwards said of her former captain. Meanwhile, Nat Sciver-Brunt, who now leads the side, struck a commanding 120 off 104 against India and showed she could still offer with the ball despite an Achilles issue. \u201cNat\u2019s ready to go. She\u2019s bowling. She hasn\u2019t bowled in every warm-up game, but she\u2019s doing lots of training overs as well. She\u2019s in a really good place physically, so we are hoping to get ten overs out of Nat,\u201d Edwards said, adding, \u201cNat loves bowling and I think it helps her batting.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Edwards praised the depth of England\u2019s spin department: \u201cWe are very lucky, we\u2019ve got four of the best [spinners] in world cricket in my opinion. That comes from my experience of coaching out here, that spin\u2019s played a massive factor even in T20 cricket and WPL cricket.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Central to their preparations has been the return of Heather Knight, who made 41 off 48 in her first outing since tearing her hamstring in May. \u201cShe\u2019s vital to our success out here,\u201d Edwards said of her former captain. Meanwhile, Nat Sciver-Brunt, who now leads the side, struck a commanding 120 off 104 against India and showed she could still offer with the ball despite an Achilles issue. \u201cNat\u2019s ready to go. She\u2019s bowling. She hasn\u2019t bowled in every warm-up game, but she\u2019s doing lots of training overs as well. She\u2019s in a really good place physically, so we are hoping to get ten overs out of Nat,\u201d Edwards said, adding, \u201cNat loves bowling and I think it helps her batting.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She concluded with optimism: \u201cHopefully that clarity is going to help this team under pressure, because I don\u2019t think we\u2019ll leave a stone unturned in terms of our prep. The signs have been really strong so far in terms of the development I\u2019ve seen in the last six months. I\u2019m just hoping we can take that now onto the big stage.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n