WITH England ladies cricket captain Charlotte Edwards preparing to win her 100th cap in Australia tomorrow (Thursday), DAVE WOODS found out how the Pidley all-rounder is preparing ahead of the upcoming Ashes Test when he spoke to her from a rainy Sydney o

WITH England ladies cricket captain Charlotte Edwards preparing to win her 100th cap in Australia tomorrow (Thursday), DAVE WOODS found out how the Pidley all-rounder is preparing ahead of the upcoming Ashes Test when he spoke to her from a rainy Sydney on Tuesday.

ONLY three other England ladies have achieved 100 appearances for their country, but Edwards, 28, remains humble about the achievement.

"I'm looking forward to it, definitely," she said. "It only seems like a short time ago I was playing my first county match for Huntingdonshire against Hertfordshire at under-13 level."

As The Hunts Post went to press England ladies stood at 1-1 in their five-match one day international series against Australia.

After losing a one-off Twenty20 game on Friday, England won the first match in the one day series in Melbourne on Sunday, before losing at the same venue on Monday.

Of the latest defeat - by 84 runs - Edwards said: "We really didn't perform on Monday, credit to the Aussie girls because they came out fired up after our win in the first ODI on Sunday but we should have done better.

"The bowling lacked control although after a good start we had them two down after only nine overs but the Blackwell sisters took the game away from us."

Though disappointed, Edwards was full of praise for the way her squad has adapted and performed on the tour so far.

She said: "We won our first ODI handsomely - our first ODI win in Australia since 1988.

"To beat them by 56 runs was fantastic. Everyone played well and this after we had lost in the Twenty20 when our fielding was not at its best."

It has been a real up and down tour to date with results. England defeated Australia U21s in the third warm-up game with a 75-run win in which Edwards scored a quick-fire 31 before chipping in with two wickets for good measure.

Although there has already been a lot of cricket played in a short time, Edwards said the squad had managed to take some time out.

"After the Twenty20 match there was a huge reception for the teams. There were several superstars there and we had the chance to chat with [Australian Olympic athlete] Cathy Freeman and talked about the game to Shane Warne," said Edwards.

"We all really enjoyed the occasion and it gave us the chance to unwind and take a step away from the cricket."

Edwards also admitted how she relished the opportunity to take to the field at the 100,000-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground.

She said: "It was awesome. I had seen the development in progress a couple of years back but to come here as England ladies captain is something else altogether."

On Monday evening Edwards and her side had attended a reception at the British Consulate in Sydney and the all-rounder said: "It was posh frocks and all the trimmings. They held a reception for the team and invited guests and made us feel very welcome.

"The Consulate building overlooks the Opera House and the views were stunning, even though it was pouring with rain and looked like a typical winter's day in Huntingdon."

Edwards was looking forward to the next three ODIs and said: "We are still in good shape despite Monday's result - we know we are as good as them in all departments but we have to be on our game for the full 50 overs.

"The MCG was great but now we're raring to go in Sydney for the remainder of the ODIs.

"My own form could be better, but I would willingly accept another poor score for myself in my 100th game if the team win and we can take the lead in the series."

* England play Australia tomorrow (Thursday) and again on Sunday and Monday. The single Test to decide the Ashes begins on February 15.