England vs West Indies: Amy Jones hails 'legendary' Charlotte Edwards after winning start under new head coach
Amy Jones hit a maiden ODI hundred as she moved back up to open for first time in six years in England's series-opening win over West Indies in Derby on Friday; watch second women's ODI, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 12.30pm on Wednesday (first ball at 1pm)
Wednesday 4 June 2025 12:36, UK
Amy Jones was full of praise for former England captain and new head coach Charlotte Edwards, with the team in the midst of a four-game win streak to start her leadership.
Having swept the West Indies in the preceeding T20 series, England take a 1-0 lead into the second one-day international of the three-match series in Leicester on Wednesday - live on Sky Sports Cricket from 12.30pm (first ball, 1pm).
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Jones starred in England's series-opening win, 108-run win in Derby, hitting her maiden international hundred when promoted back up the order to open for the first time since 2019.
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"It has been brilliant," Jones said of the start under the new leadership team of Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
"Lottie has come in with a lot of energy and passion for England cricket, going way back into her playing days.
"She is a legend of the game and came in with a lot of passion and excitement. We're really pleased with how it has gone so far.
"When someone has captained England for as long as she did, and achieved the things she did, she is definitely inspirational and someone who a lot of us looked up to.
"To have her in the head coach role has just been fantastic. She gives us a lot of confidence to go out there and back ourselves."
Jones added on finally firing a maiden hundred in an England shirt: "Relief is the word. It has obviously been a long time coming.
"To get over the line with that one, and tick that box, was a really special moment - definitely something I'll remember forever."
Jones also praised the role Sciver-Brunt has played in England starting the new regime so brightly since she was appointed as Heather Knight's successor.
"Nat has been great as well," Jones told Sky Sports. "She has taken it completely in her stride.
"Her character in general is very calm and level-headed - that's probably been the biggest quality she has leant on, along with the vast amount of experience she has got.
"She is one of the best players in the world and has captained a lot of teams round the world. She has fit into the role perfectly."
In England's series-opening win over the West Indies in Derby, in addition to Jones' ton, Tammy Beaumont also struck the 11th of her ODI career, while Linsey Smith bagged a five-wicket haul on debut.
Sciver-Brunt said after the game: "The team did brilliantly. The opening partnership was stunning, they read conditions well, played brilliantly, accelerated really well in the middle overs and set us up for a great score.
"With the change of leadership and coach [I'm most proud of] settling in as quickly as we have and really committing to the things we wanted to do - huge partnerships and top batters in towards the end of the innings."
Smith, meanwhile, said of her dream ODI debut: "It's pretty surreal. It feels like a bit of a blur but I guess my initial feelings are pretty over the moon.
"One, to make my debut. Two, to put in a performance and help the team win, so I'm pretty proud of myself right now. But there's another game coming up quickly and we want to win the series as well."
England Women's white-ball fixtures vs West Indies
All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports
T20 international series vs West Indies (May)
- First T20I, Canterbury: England win by eight wickets
- Second T20I, Hove: England win by nine wickets
- Third T20I, Chelmsford: England win by 17 runs
One-day international series vs West Indies (May-June)
- First ODI, Derby: England win by 108 runs
- Second ODI: Wednesday June 4 (1pm) - Leicester
- Third ODI: Saturday June 7 (11am) - Taunton
Watch the second women's one-day international between England and West Indies, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 12.30pm on Wednesday June 4 (first ball, 1pm). Stream cricket with NOW.
