ENGLAND Ladies cricket captain Charlotte Edwards is now in New Zealand following her side s Ashes triumph in Australia. The Pidley all-rounder spoke to DAVE WOODS for an update of life on tour. After the elation of retaining the Ashes, with its associate

ENGLAND Ladies cricket captain Charlotte Edwards is now in New Zealand following her side's Ashes triumph in Australia. The Pidley all-rounder spoke to DAVE WOODS for an update of life on tour.

After the elation of retaining the Ashes, with its associated razzmatazz, England Ladies had to get back in the right frame of mind for the One Day Internationals against a very classy New Zealand side on Sunday.

After a couple of days away from the game, including some leisure time in Sydney, the team arrived in New Zealand late on Wednesday last week.

After a hard training session on Thursday, Edwards' women emerged victorious in a 50-over warm up game against New Zealand A on Friday.

Then, after yet another day of preparation, they played a double-header of fixtures on Sunday and Monday to kick off the ODI series.

"The team played very poorly in the first game," said Edwards. "We had the opposition on the rack at 132-6 but the bowlers sprayed it about and we were punished.

"Chasing 260 on a very good track seemed possible but only Claire Taylor and myself reached double figures and we were well beaten.

"Afterwards the dressing room was not the place to be as firstly Mark Lane, the coach, ripped into everyone, then I got more than a bit vocal myself.

"I felt that some of the minds were still on the Ashes win and not on what we now need to achieve," said Edwards, who had top-scored with 70.

That 'talking to' certainly seemed to motivate the team for the second ODI as they ran out comfortable winners by nine wickets with overs to spare and proved that as a unit they can produce the goods.

The series is now finely balanced and the three remaining games over the next six days are sure to be nail-biters.

Edwards' side now have former Leicestershire star Jack Birkinshaw on the coaching staff to add his experience to the successful team.

The team took time out to watch the England men's ODI before their first game and watched Paul Collingwood's men fail in their attempts to square the series with the Kiwis.

Edwards said: "We dined out with some of the England men after the game and I had a great night chatting with Matthew Hoggard and I hope they do well in the forthcoming test series over here.

"As for us, the squad is fully fit so I hope we can complete a memorable tour over the next few days and return home late next week with not only the Ashes but a ODI series win against New Zealand."

* England Ladies play their final three games against the Kiwis on Thursday, Sunday and Monday before flying home on Wednesday.

* Look out for Charlotte's final interview from 'down under' in next week's Hunts Post.