England fitness issues put to bed - Edwards

England are hosts of the Women's T20 World Cup this summer England head coach Charlotte Edwards says her players have categorically addressed the issues surrounding their fitness. The physical condition of England's players was a hot topic of debate before Edwards' appointment. England's early exit from the Women's T20 World Cup just under 18 months ago prompted former spinner Alex Hartley to say some players were "letting the team down" in terms of fitness.

Athleticism again came into focus during the Ashes in January 2025, and former coach Jon Lewis attributed it to a cultural difference between the UK and Australia. Edwards introduced minimum fitness standards for England players when she replaced Lewis in charge last year. When asked on a BBC Test Match Special debate show if the fitness issue had been put to bed, Edwards responded that it "100%" had.

"We're in a really good place. The results are all so high. I couldn't be more chuffed - we've made real progress," Edwards said.

"It's not just all about whether you can run round a track. It's all the other elements to it that we've tried to make just as important. " Edwards will celebrate a year in charge of England, who host the T20 World Cup this summer, on Wednesday.