England Women's coach Mark Robinson discusses decision to replace Charlotte Edwards
Monday 20 June 2016 20:09, UK
As England Women prepare to take on Pakistan Women in the first of three ODIs, head coach Mark Robinson discusses the decision to end Charlotte Edwards' reign as captain.
Edwards led the team for 10 years and enjoyed huge success in that time, leading the side to victory in the World Cup, World Twenty20 and the Ashes in a remarkable 2009, a year after having been named the ICC women's cricketer of the year.
However, despite further Ashes triumphs in 2013 and 2013-14, England have struggled to replicate their past success in the past couple of years and, after defeat to Australia in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 earlier this year, Edwards, after discussions with Robinson, announced her retirement in May.
"We've probably stuttered a bit as a team and haven't been as successful in recent times as we would like and I think everybody just felt it was time for a change," explained Robinson.
"We're 14 months away from a World Cup so the choice was to wait or make a decision now with the view for hopefully what will be in the best interests of English cricket going forward.
"Charlotte led this team brilliantly for so long but nothing goes on forever. The biggest stumbling block when I was thinking about why you wouldn't do it was my utter and total respect for Charlotte. I knew it was going to be unpopular but deep down I knew it was the right thing to do."
Watch Robinson explain the decision to replace Edwards as England captain in the video above.
