Charlotte Edwards dishes the dirt on her former England team-mates
Monday 11 July 2016 10:43, UK
Who plays the best cover drive? Who cuts each other's hair on tour? Who is obsessed with Portsmouth Football Club? And who's karaoke song is Celine Dion?
It's Women's Cricket Week and we thought there'd be no better way to celebrate that with former England Women's captain Charlotte Edwards dishing the dirt on her old team mates.
Edwards - who retired from international cricket earlier this year - made her England debut in 1995 and took on the captaincy in 2005 so is well placed to assess her team mates spanning the past two decades...
Most naturally talented?
Sarah Taylor without a shadow of a doubt. She is one of those that can play every sport, and her wicketkeeping is so natural. She isn't the biggest trainer, but you can just see she has such natural ability. She plays every shot, her cover drive is particularly brilliant, just an outstanding cricketer. She needs this time out she's currently having, with a big year ahead. We all wish he well, and having spoken to her a couple of times, she seems like she is on the road to recovery.
Who was the best trainer?
Beth Morgan. She was always someone I hugely admired in the way she went about her training - she put everything into it, whether that be in the gym or in the nets. She was never too competitive with it either, very humble in everything she did. One of the best team-mates, and someone you always wanted to do well.
Biggest joker in the team?
There are some good fun girls in the team. Heather Knight is a pretty funny girl. And Danielle Wyatt, but on a different level. Plus, Kate Cross and Lauren Winfield are a good double act - dry humour. Apparently they have been known to cut each other's hair on tour, which is quite strange.
Worst taste in music?
What I consider bad is very different to the young girls in the team. There is some terrible music played at times in the changing room. Natalie Sciver thinks she has the best taste, she thinks she is pretty hip and always seems to pick the playlist for the team. She isn't a music snob though, she won't judge you on what you like. She's a good dancer too. Katherine Brunt, meanwhile, claims to play the guitar, but I have never seen her pick one up in my life!
Best singer?
Anya Shrubsole can sing. But to be honest, none of them ever got a look in when I was in the team, I love karaoke. My go to tune used to be Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse of the Heart. But now it is Celine Dion, Think Twice. My dream is to do a duet with Gary Barlow, singing A Million Love Songs maybe.
Messiest eater?
Beth Barrett-Wild. Not a team-mate, but our media officer, and someone I have worked very closely with over the years. When it comes to dinner time, she steals all of our food and piles her plate up as high as she can. We don't get a word out of her at dinner time.
Most and least intelligent?
Most intelligent would be Anya Shrubsole, you'd want her on your quiz team. She has a broad knowledge of most things, although her Mastermind specialist subject would be Portsmouth Football Club. She knows a lot about sport in general. I don't want to say it, but least intelligent is probably Danni Wyatt. It's not that she isn't intelligent, she is just misguided.
Worst or weirdest habit in the dressing room?
A few in the team like to do things like put their left pad on first but there's nothing too outrageous. And it's not necessarily a habit, but Katherine Brunt does always seem to have her big toe out. Bowlers' big toe can often be really disgusting, so she should hide it away really, but she likes to mess about with it.
Sorest loser?
Katherine Brunt, without a doubt. She hates losing, even just a warm-up game. She will go off and sulk. So when she loses an important game, it's even worse. And if you drop a catch off her, it could be years till she has forgiven you. She wears her heart on her sleeve when she is playing so you know what she is thinking and feeling at all times. She is the heart of that team.
Most likely to cry at a film?
Georgia Elwiss. She can get a little bit teary, and is a soft soul.
Best and worst dressed?
The best is probably Lauren Winfield - she likes her clothes and she has so many pairs of shoes, it's ridiculous! The worst would be a close-run think between Danielle Hazell and Heather Knight. Heather is improving I would say, she has to now that she is captain. She is stepping it up. Danni is really into her golf gear - if she's not in the hotel, she is usually down at the driving range - but it doesn't really work as casual wear.
Best sledger?
Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight work well as a double act as wicketkeeper and first slip. It's all in jest and good banter.
Most likely to turn pro at another sport?
Nat Sciver is an all-rounder. She plays football, hockey. She can turn to any sport and be very good at it. Anya Shrubsole loves her football, but I'm not sure she could play - centre half maybe, good enough for Portsmouth! If I could do any other sport, I'd want to be a 100 metre runner. I haven't got the ability, but if someone was to give me some magical powers, I'd love to be a 100 metre runner at Rio.
Worst room mate?
As captain I was actually able to make sure I got a single room most of the time, but my worst type of roommate is someone who goes to bed really late and then lies in. Tammy Beaumont is really messy, but I never had an issue with that, because I'm really messy too.