Saturday 31 December 2016 13:58, UK
Georgia Elwiss picks out her highlights from England Women's momentous 2016 - which saw them change coach and captain, as well as qualify for the 2017 Women's World Cup...
The last 12 months have certainly been a year of change for the England Women's cricket team; we've had retirements, new caps have been awarded, we've broken records, and, maybe most importantly, we've written a new team song.
Off the field, the start of 2016 saw us welcome new head coach, Robbo (Mark Robinson), into the family - an exciting new addition from a cricket perspective, but not so much for his overriding love for Hull City football club, and his desire to talk about them whenever possible.
On the field a lot has happened, and from the team that played in our first ODI of the year out in South Africa in February, there had been eight changes to the starting XI by the time we played our last game of 2016 in Sri Lanka last month. This shows the great depth we have as a squad and how much we've grown over the last 12 months.
Along the way, we've celebrated the quite outstanding careers of Lydia Greenway and, of course, the legendary Charlotte Edwards, and we have embarked on a new era for the team under the leadership of Heather Knight, even if she did go out to do her first toss without a coin.
We've experienced the lows of the ICC Women's World T20 semi-final defeat in India, gruelling fitness sessions in Loughborough and cold dark mornings grinding out training sessions.
But we've also achieved many amazing things, such as qualifying for the ICC Women's World Cup on home soil next summer, presenting new caps to Alex Hartley, Sophie Ecclestone and Beth Langston, and welcoming back Fran Wilson from a five-year international absence.
It's certainly been a special squad to be a part of and here are my top five moments of 2016...
5. The Tammy Beaumont Blooper Reel
This began at the ICC WT20 in March, when Tammy found numerous ways of making a fool of herself on camera including forward rolls, backward rolls, face plants… you name it, she did it, and it was all caught live on Sky Sports.
4. The Kia Super League
What a fantastic competition to be part of, and it really was an honour for me to lead Loughborough Lightning in the first season - it was also reassuring to learn that Australia's Ellyse Perry isn't all that scary either!
3. Sophie Ecclestone's map of Britain
Wales was drawn above England. Enough said. It was honestly awful. Get back to school, Sophie.
2. Singing our new song
Upon entering a new era for the team, we decided to write a new team song, and make as much noise as possible singing it whenever we win an international. We've had a pretty successful year, so it's been great to belt it out on numerous occasions - it's a bat-breaker!
1. Our record-breaking summer
The ODI and T20I series against Pakistan this summer have to be my favourite ever in an England shirt. To share in so many of the girls' individual success, after so much hard work as a team, and to break so many longstanding records on the way, was just incredible. I'm sure this summer will go down as a favourite in many people's careers.
With a home 50-over World Cup next year the hard work begins again in January. But until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
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