Charlotte Edwards enjoying life Down Under with Western Fury

Kent Cricket Women’s Team skipper Charlotte Edwards is relishing the challenge of playing in the Australian Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL).

The 34-year-old England skipper is playing for Western Fury for the last three months of 2014 before returning home to prepare for a tour of New Zealand with the national team and the defence of Kent’s County Championship title next summer.

Edwards said: “The opportunity to play in the WNCL was something I always wanted to do as a player and getting to the latter end of my career, it was an opportunity I didn’t want to turn down.

“To play in Perth at the WACA with a young, emerging team and for my leadership it was a good move.

“Knowing Steve Jenkins the coach and Christina Matthews the chief executive made it a no-brainer in the end.

“I think the last two years there have been real signs of a developing side and that’s one of the main attractions for me with my experience to spur this team on.

“I want to add value to the group and with 18 years’ international experience I think I can bring that.

“I love watching young players blossom but most importantly I am here to score runs.”

The England skipper joins two colleagues in the WNCL: Sussex wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor (South Australia Scorpions) and Berkshire batswoman Heather Knight (Tasmania Roar).

“I believe this is the best domestic competition in the world hence why three England players have come out here to play in it and 3 or 4 NZ players.

“Our international loyalties are out the window and hopefully over the next three months, we can do that.”

Edwards is encouraged by the growth of the women’s game with the onset of central contracts in several nations and the partnership with Canterbury Christ Church University helping to support the Kent Cricket Women's Team.

“The game is unrecognisable to the game I played 18 years ago when I played in a skirt and paid for my own blazer.

“It’s great to see how far the game has come in that time. Australia and England have led the way in terms of professionalising the game and that’s been fantastic to see so many other countries jumping on board.

“The top eight countries all have some form of contract which is great for the growth of the game and the recent T20 tournament in Bangladesh showed that globally on and off the field.

“I am looking forward to seeing how far the game can grow over the next ten years. It’s exciting for all girls to know you can come out and have a career and the possibility to play in great countries like Australia.”

The England opener has had a tough start at the helm of Western Fury, losing the opening three games against Queensland Fire despite top-scoring in every match.

In their 50-over WNCL opener, Fury were bowled out for 144 in 45.2 overs. Edwards top scored with 63 off 114 balls but Fire cantered to an eight-wicket win with 22.1 overs to spare.

On her T20 debut on Friday, Edwards scored 36 off 39 balls as Fury were restricted to 96/7 in reply to Queensland Fire’s 122/6.

The Kent skipper struck 34 in a second Twenty20 clash on Sunday before Fire chased the 114 target down with 11 balls to spare.

The WNCL and WT20 involve seven Australian state teams that play each other in six rounds of matches from October to February.

Since the inaugural WNCL competition in 1996-1997, New South Wales Breakers have won 16 titles, with Victorian Spirit the only other team to be crowned champions, having triumphed in 2002-2003 and 2004-2005.

The WT20 was introduced in 2008-2009, and Victorian Spirit is the current form side in the shortest format of the women’s game in Australia, having won the WT20 title for the last three years.

Western Fury T20 fixtures: Oct 24/26 Tasmanian Roar (h), Oct 28/29 Vic Spirit (a), Dec 12/13 Lend Lease Breakers (a), Dec 20/22 SA Scorpions (a), Jan 2/3 ACT Meteors (a).

WNCL fixtures: Oct 25 Tasmanian Roar (h), Nov 28 Vic Spirit (a), Dec 12 Lend Lease Breakers (a).