CHARLOTTE Edwards – Huntingdonshire s successful England women s cricket captain – is determined to bring back the silverware when she leads out the national team in the 2009 Cricket World Cup. In an exclusive interview with The Hunts Post, Edwards, from

CHARLOTTE Edwards - Huntingdonshire's successful England women's cricket captain - is determined to bring back the silverware when she leads out the national team in the 2009 Cricket World Cup.

In an exclusive interview with The Hunts Post, Edwards, from Pidley, said there would be no excuses if the England team failed to return triumphant.

Edwards, 28, has a reputation as an honest, fair, and straight-talking cricketer.

But she has also built up a reputation as a great cricketer. Last winter she led a victorious England team in both Australia and New Zealand, winning the Ashes along the way (the first women's captain since 1934 to lead her country to Ashes victory in Australia).

Come the start of the World Cup, Edwards is expecting the same level of performances from herself and the team.

They will have to face the host nation, Australia, and six other countries who will all be vying for the title. It will not be easy.

England have been drawn in Group B for the opening stages and will no doubt be practising against spin bowling as their three opponents are all from the sub-continent: India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The top three in each group qualify for the Super Sixes" with hope of making the final on March 22.

"We know a lot about the opposition, nothing will be easy," Edwards told The Hunts Post. "Normally we would be out of our playing season but eight of the squad are already playing club cricket in Australia."

Edwards herself will fly out to Australia in early February

She added: "The squad will be together four weeks before the competition starts with hard practice and warm up games already planned.

"We will be ready and will have no excuses for under performing."

Edwards said she expects her players to "get stuck in" as the Australians will be the hardest "nut to crack".

"Over the last two years we have established a squad of girls who are have the ability to win the World Cup.

"We all know that the Aussies will be a tough nut to crack and the Kiwi's never lay down easily but we all believe we have the ammunition to beat them."

Having remained unbeaten in series against West Indies, South Africa and India at home in the summer of 2008 the team will be keen to reclaim the World Cup trophy that England last won in 1993.

Edwards, has consistently made runs at the highest level, she won the LG ICC Women's Player of the Year Award in 2008 the highest accolade for a female cricketer.

A England team needs to restore some pride in national cricket...and it's looking far more likely that this will be provided by the women's team with Huntingdonshire star cricketer, the youngest player to have played for England when she made her debut at the age of 16, at the helm.

WINNER: Charlotte Edwards with the 2008 Women's Player of the Year Award.

ACTION GIRL: Charlotte Edwards expects herself and her team to perform well in the World Cup in Australia in 2009.