England veteran Charlotte quits intertiol women's cricket

London, May 11: Ending a 20-year-long stellar career, England women’s team skipper Charlotte Edwards on Wednesday announced her retirement from intertiol cricket.

The 36-year-old batswoman, who made her debut in 1996, is the all-time leading run-scorer in One-Day Intertiols (ODIs) with 5,992 runs from 191 matches. She has an even more phenomel T20 Intertiol record with 2,605 runs from 95 games, more than any other player in the world (man or woman).

Appointed captain in 2006, Edwards has led her country on 220 occasions, taking the team to ICC Women’s World Cup and ICC World Twenty20 glory in 2009, alongside winning the Women’s Ashes three times as captain — once in England (2013) and twice in Australia (2008 and 2014).

“Everyone who knows me — and how much I love playing for England — will appreciate what a difficult decision it has been for me to retire from intertiol cricket,” Edwards, who is only the second woman ever to be med as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year, said in a statement.

“It’s a decision I’ve reached after much thought and detailed discussion with (head coach) Mark Robinson and Clare Connor about what is best for the team going forward.

“I have given 20 years to playing for England and I leave very proud of the standing in which the women’s game is held and of my contribution as a player and captain.

“However, nothing lasts forever. I believe now is the right time for a new captain to lead the team forward and for young players to be given more opportunities to make their mark on the intertiol game.” (IANS)