Photo Credit: ICC
Following the ICC Hall of Fame announcement on 8 November 2022, open letters have been written to the inductees by those close to them, with their reactions to the news. Here, Clare Connor writes to Charlotte Edwards.
Dear Lottie,
How amazing. I am so proud of you, and everything you have achieved in one of the most remarkable cricket careers.
A quick glance at the other incredible names inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame makes it apparent quite what an honour this is – and you are completely deserving of it.
I can’t believe it can be true, but I think we met just over 30 years ago. Two young girls at Junior England trials, warming up in the nets with our Dads throwing balls at us. Cricket wasn’t the obvious choice for girls of our age, it wasn’t the easy choice, but we were both in love with the game.
Like everyone who watched you play, I knew straightaway that you were special, a different class. I knew again in 2006 when I retired and passed the England captaincy to you that you would take our team, and our sport, to bigger and better things. And you did. Of course you did. As a player you lifted trophies, you scored runs, you set standards, you inspired hundreds of thousands – at times, you dragged us kicking and screaming over the line and into the professional era.
As a captain and as a batter your name was similarly totemic to that of Rachael Heyhoe-Flint. At that stage in the game’s evolution, people may not have known women’s cricket, but they knew Charlotte Edwards.
And I know, by the way, that you’re far from done yet. There are more challenges ahead of you and I have every confidence you’ll meet them with your characterful drive and determination. But for the time being let’s celebrate you, Charlotte Edwards the run-scorer and the captain who belted out karaoke amongst the girls with as much pride as you sang the national anthem ahead of a huge game. They were your team, and you achieved so much with them.
You did it all with the bat. That 92 off not many to regain the Ashes in Hobart jumps to mind, and still nobody has scored more runs for England Women than you. And you did it all as a captain. 2009, of course, was a real highlight – two World Cups and an Ashes! I know what it meant to you to lift the ICC Women’s World Cup at Sydney after so many years of being put in our place by the Aussies!
All of those landmarks and records make you a true great of the game on the pitch. But just as importantly, off the pitch, as a friend and as a human being, you are also a true great. You have always been so kind, supportive and generous. Cricket has been, and still is, really lucky to have you.
I and many others are so proud of you for being inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. From Ramsey Cricket Club to the Vipers and the Sixers, via the most remarkable feats for your country over so many years. Well done Lottie, I’m unbelievably proud of you.
