The Twelfth Man 2015

9 circuit, is employed by Hunts County bats, and, most important of all, she is an ambassador for the charity Chance to Shine, campaigning to bring cricket into state schools all over the country. More recent accolades include a CBE to add to her MBE after captaining the team to back-to-back Ashes wins in 2013 and 2014. Last year, she was named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year, becoming only the second woman to do so after Claire Taylor. History was made in the same year when she was awarded a central contract by the ECB, together with other England players, and women’s cricket finally became fully professional. Her dominance in the England team lives on as she has been named women’s Player of the Year for 2015 for the second year running. Another milestone for Edwards was honoured at the Lord’s Award ceremony when Clare Connor presented her with a silver England cap for her 200th match as England captain. It is interesting to note that in the nine years she has stood at the helm of England cricket, the men’s team has experienced eight full-time captains across all formats. Charlotte is an inspiration for all girls and boys, and Clare Connor’s words of praise for her come from the heart: “[she is] a credit to women’s cricket globally, a superb role model for girls who aspire to play for their country.” Finally, it should not be forgotten that Edwards is also a useful leg-spin bowler and her international stats with both bat and ball are impressive: in 22 Tests, 1,645 runs, 45.69 average, 4 centuries and 12 wickets; in 185 ODIs, 5,812 runs, 38.49 average, 9 centuries and 54 wickets; in 84 T20s, 2,299 runs, 33.31 average and 9 wickets. England are on the road to the 2017 World Cup via the Women’s Championship – a bilateral tournament. They must play seven rounds of ODI series against other jostling nations in order to gain qualification over a two year period. At the conclusion, the top four will go through automatically while the bottom four will take their chances at the Qualifier event. Edwards will no doubt be leading her country into battle on home soil at the World Cup in 2017. For a full history of the women’s game, e-mail isabelleduncan@hotmail.com to purchase a signed copy of Skirting the Boundary: a history of women’s cricket . Discounted to £15 plus p&p for WCLS members. When the day is done And the ball has spun In the umpire’s pocket away And all remains in the groundsman’s pains For the rest of time And a day There’ll be one mad dog and his master Pushing for four with the spin On a dusty pitch With two pounds six of willow wood In the sun When an old cricketer leaves the crease You never know whether he’s gone If sometimes you’re catching a fleeting glimpse Of a twelfth man at silly mid-on And it could be Geoff, and it could be John With a new ball sting in his tail And it could be me, and it could be thee And it could be the sting in the ale The sting in the ale When the moment comes And the gathering stands And the clock turns back to reflect On the years of grace As those footsteps trace For the last time out of the act Well, this way of life’s recollection The hallowed strip in the haze The fabled men and the noonday sun Are much more than yarns of their day Poem read at the Interment of WCLS’s late Treasurer, Roy Foster When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease by Roy Harper