Summary
England's women's cricket team will set minimum fitness standards for players starting next year, directed by new head coach Charlotte Edwards. The decision follows criticisms about the team's fitness, with Edwards emphasizing stronger accountability and individual improvement.
Key Facts
- England's women's cricket team will have minimum fitness standards starting next year.
- Charlotte Edwards, the new head coach, will lead her first match against the West Indies.
- The team's fitness concerns arose after their performance in the recent Ashes series.
- Coach Jon Lewis and captain Heather Knight were removed from their positions after the Ashes.
- Edwards has already conducted fitness tests in her first week as head coach.
- There were no specific fitness benchmarks under past coaching leadership.
- The men's team had minimum standards before but now follows a more relaxed approach.
- Spinner Sophie Ecclestone, recovering from injury, was left out of the squad for the West Indies match.
