Canterbury, 26 June 2012

ICC World Twenty20 trophies arrive at Canterbury for England v India

Charlotte Edwards and Mithali Raj pose with trophies ahead of T20I in Kent

Charlotte Edwards, England women’s captain, and India’s captain Mithali Raj were at the St Lawrence Ground on Tuesday (26 June) ahead of their sides’ Twenty20 International having a look at the ICC World Twenty20 trophies and both players admitted they dreamt of lifting the trophy on 7 October 2012.

Edwards led the England women’s team to victory in the ICC World Twenty20 England 2009 at Lord’s on 21 June 2010 against New Zealand and admitted she wanted to reclaim the trophy the side failed to retain in the West Indies in 2010.

The 32-year-old top-order batter said: “We had a disappointing tournament in 2010 in the Caribbean and this year is about rectifying that and claiming back the trophy we won in front of our home supporters in 2009.

“We’ve got a new look side that has been working hard over the last year to ensure we’ve got a good amount of match practice and we’re ready for Sri Lanka later this year. We want to be in that final on 7 October in Colombo and ultimately lifting the trophy once again.”

Edwards echoed her male counterpart, Stuart Broad, on how great it would be for cricket in England if both the men’s and women’s sides were victorious in Sri Lanka on finals day.

“Both the men’s and women’s sides have tasted success at the ICC World Twenty20, us in 2009 while the men’s side in 2010, to have both of us in the final of the event in Sri Lanka and to perhaps even win both events would be great for cricket across England and Wales.

“We really enjoy playing as double-headers with the men’s sides and hopefully this year we’ll bring home the trophy along with the men’s side. We’ve got some good preparation in place ahead of the tournament with games against India and a series against West Indies later this summer, just before the tournament begins.”

Alongside Edwards with the ICC World Twenty20 trophies was India captain, Mithali Raj, who was as eager for her side to claim its first ICC World Twenty20 women’s title.

“It would be great to win the ICC Women’s World Twenty20, the closest we have got to the title is the semi-final stage and we know we have the ability to go further.

“The fact the tournament is being played in Sri Lanka will help us immensely as the sub-continent conditions are ones that we know and do well in as a team. “

Mithali also admitted it would be great to bring home some ICC silverware home to India to mirror the two trophies won by the men.

“Of course we would love to win the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012, and make the whole of India proud. The men won the tournament in 2007 and then won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 so hopefully this time around it will be both the India women and men bringing home the ICC World Twenty20 trophies.”

The men’s competition will be staged in Hambantota, Pallekelle and Colombo. The women’s group stages will be in Galle.