How Edwards builds a squad to win The Hundred

It was 3rd clip fortunate for Charlotte Edwards and Southern Brave successful 2023.

After conclusion successful nan Lord’s last nan erstwhile 2 years, Brave yet sewage complete nan statement to win The Hundred women’s competition.

A twelvemonth connected and Edwards is plotting Brave’s title defence pinch their opening lucifer against London Spirit connected 24 July accelerated approaching.

But getting to this constituent and putting together a squad tin of challenging for a trophy takes months of planning.

As soon arsenic nan process for retaining players from nan erstwhile tourney is confirmed, that came successful November for this year’s Hundred, nan readying originates successful earnest.

"We look astatine really we’re going to put nan squad together and really we clasp nan players - hopefully they judge their offers – which is nan first process for me," Edwards told BBC Sport.

"Once I get those players locked successful past nan adjacent shape kicks in. I was very fortunate this twelvemonth because we had a spread astatine our apical extremity pinch Anya [Shrubsole] retiring, which meant I could move astir players up.

"Everyone felt happier and they were getting paid much money truthful I felt very fortunate that it each fell into place."

Edwards besides coaches Mumbai Indians successful India's Women's Premier League and Sydney Sixers successful Australia's Women's Big Bash League, truthful is becoming progressively acquainted pinch nan various draught systems and auctions successful franchise cricket.

"I had galore nights successful India wherever I had not overmuch to do truthful was trying to put a strategy together, " she said.

"I thrust a batch of nan subordinate recruitment, on pinch our analyst, who will backmost up a batch of my decisions.

"I evidently cognize nan skeleton of nan squad I want and they will springiness maine nan numbers astir positions and which players will beryllium available."

Analytics are playing an ever-increasing domiciled successful cricket but that is conscionable 1 constituent to beryllium factored successful arsenic nan erstwhile England skipper goes astir shaping her squad.

"The measurement I work, I for illustration to person players that I cognize - hence why we’ve picked Lauren Cheatle up, she’s pinch maine astatine nan Sydney Sixers.

"You cognize what you’re going to get, you don’t request to walk nan first 2 weeks trying to merge that player, they cognize really you operate... truthful you consciousness for illustration it will beryllium rather a seamless modulation into our squad."

Similarly, bringing backmost India batter Smriti Mandhana was a large privilege for Brave astatine March's draft.

But for a coach progressive successful truthful galore competitions passim nan year, that attack tin lead to immoderate awkward situations.

"The astir difficult point is explaining to nan players that you mightiness person them successful 1 squad but you won’t request them successful nan next," Edwards said.

"That’s nan conversational broadside of it that you’ve sewage to person pinch these players to opportunity :‘Just because I’ve not taken you astatine Mumbai Indians doesn’t mean I don’t complaint you’.

"Each squad has a different equilibrium to it because of nan home players that you’ve got.

"It’s important that nan players don’t return it personally. That you’re doing what’s correct for nan squad you’re looking aft astatine that time.

"The first mates of years pinch nan Brave, a batch of nan Southern Vipers players [who Edwards besides coaches] sewage upset that I wasn’t utilizing them successful this team, but I had good, honorable conversations pinch them.

"I contacted each nan players from past twelvemonth astir why they’ve not been picked successful nan draught because that connection broadside and explaining myself is really important.

"You want that respect pinch nan subordinate moving forward. I don’t effort and dodge difficult conversations because portion of my occupation is to explicate myself and warrant definite decisions."

No matter really overmuch attraction is taken, aliases readying goes into it, nan quality of nan draught intends teams person to beryllium adaptable and fresh to alteration people arsenic events transpire.

"It’s besides astir different teams and trying to fig retired what their scheme is. That is nan spot I emotion astir it.

"I sewage it a small spot incorrect early doors, I wasn’t expecting [Meg] Lanning to spell to London Spirit. I was reasoning she was going to spell to Oval Invincibles and beryllium portion of nan Delhi Capitals [Jonathan Batty coaches both] but astatine nan Oval.

"There are a fewer curveballs but that is what’s awesome astir a draft."

What is clear is that those who were selected astatine nan draught tin beryllium judge Edwards and her squad person a scheme for really they fresh into nan squad, some connected and disconnected nan field.

"I look astatine their numbers but, equally, I will ringing astir a batch of group to make judge they’re a bully personification and will fresh really we run arsenic nan Brave group," she said.

"I for illustration to perceive everyone’s opinions but, ultimately, it’s connected my caput truthful I for illustration to make nan last telephone and make judge we’ve sewage nan correct equilibrium of team.

"That’s nan astir important point successful this type of cricket. Making judge you’ve sewage options pinch nan ball, extent pinch nan bat and you’ve sewage a bully fielding squad – and bully people."

Four months connected from nan draft, nan activity that goes into building a winning squad is over.

All that's near now for Brave is nan mini matter of putting Edwards' scheme into action retired successful nan middle.