Southern Brave, champions of the Women’s Hundred in 2021 and 2022, faced a challenging season this year, finishing at the bottom of the table after managing just one win from their eight matches. Head coach Charlotte Edwards, who led the team to back-to-back titles, acknowledged the tough campaign and emphasized the need for a strong comeback next season.
Southern Brave’s title defense never gained momentum, with the team losing two tight matches to London Spirit and Manchester Originals, and settling for a tie against Northern Superchargers early in the tournament. Their only victory came in a rain-affected match against Oval Invincibles, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide as the team struggled in the latter stages of the competition.
A Disappointing End to the Season
The Brave’s final match of the season epitomized their struggles as they were bowled out for a modest 103 against Welsh Fire, largely due to a superb bowling performance by Hayley Matthews, who took 4 for 14, and Jess Jonassen, who chipped in with 3 for 21. Welsh Fire chased down the target with ease, reaching 104 for 1 with 26 balls to spare, with Matthews and Tammy Beaumont sharing an unbroken partnership of 72 runs.
Reflecting on the season, Edwards pointed out that the team’s inability to start strong significantly affected their performance. “The start was particularly hard because we played well and we didn’t win,” Edwards told ESPNcricinfo. “And then the back four games we probably haven’t played well. When you don’t start the competition as well and then you don’t end it well, you’re probably going to be sat in the position we’re in.”
Analysis and the Path Forward
Despite the disappointing results, Edwards is not rushing into a detailed analysis of what went wrong. She plans to conduct a thorough review at the end of the year, considering both the areas that need improvement and the aspects where the team performed well. “I won’t try to be too emotional and get involved in that right now but the bottom line is we need to be better than we were this year,” she said.
Edwards remains committed to her role with Southern Brave and is hopeful of continuing her coaching duties next season, despite her current contract having ended. “I think I’m out of contract today [Wednesday] with the Brave, so hopefully they’ll re-sign me,” she added. Additionally, Edwards is looking to extend her contract with Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and has secured a contract extension with Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) for two more seasons.
The Future of Women’s Franchise Cricket
Edwards also weighed in on the scheduling conflicts between franchise leagues and international cricket, echoing the sentiments of her Mumbai Indians bowling coach, Jhulan Goswami, who called for exclusive windows for major women’s franchise tournaments. Edwards strongly supported the idea, stating, “It has to be three windows for me and that’s WPL, Hundred, and WBBL. They’re the three biggest comps. That’s no disrespect to all the other comps, but I think they’re the three biggest comps in women’s cricket. They’re so important for the growth of the game.”
She emphasized the importance of these tournaments for the development of women’s cricket and suggested that with proper scheduling, there would be ample time for both franchise and international cricket.
As Southern Brave looks to rebuild for the next season, Edwards’ experience and leadership will be crucial in guiding the team back to winning ways. The coming months will be vital for the Brave as they analyze their performance, make necessary adjustments, and prepare for a stronger campaign in 2025.
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