Charlotte Edwards joins cricket legends with Long Room portrait at Lord’s
Charlotte Edwards, former England captain and current Head Coach of the England women’s team, was honoured with a new portrait unveiled in the Long Room at Lord’s this evening, celebrating her legacy in women’s cricket.
Surrounded by her family and mentors, Edwards witnessed the unveiling of the portrait painted by Hero Johnson, commemorating her achievements on and off the field.
Celebrating a remarkable career
Edwards represented England over 300 times, capturing two World Cups — including the 2009 T20 World Cup victory against New Zealand at Lord’s — and lifting the Ashes five times during a distinguished career that spanned two decades.
Now balancing her role as Head Coach of the England women’s team, Edwards was closely involved in the creative process of the portrait, despite her demanding coaching schedule.
“I want to thank MCC for this wonderful honour. I walked into the Long Room tonight and was blown away seeing my portrait among so many great players – it is truly special,” said Edwards at the ceremony. “Hero [Johnson, the artist] captured everything about me — it brought a tear to my eye. I think my dad would have been very, very proud of this.”
A new dimension in the Lord’s Portrait Programme
The Lord’s Portrait Programme has been running for over two decades in its current form, while the MCC Museum — the oldest sporting museum in Europe — has been collecting cricket art and artefacts since the Victorian era. The collection now houses approximately 3,000 pieces, including 287 portraits.
Hero Johnson, a London-based artist and member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, described her approach: “Initially, I focused on the physicality of the sport, but after meeting Charlotte, I realized how crucial the mental side — strategy and cricket intelligence — is. Capturing her thoughtful nature felt more authentic.”
Johnson added, “I always aim to capture the sitter’s inner world. Without that psychological aspect, you might have a good painting, but not truly a portrait.”
Adding to the legacy at Lord’s
Charlotte Goodhew, MCC Collections and Programmes Manager, noted, “Charlotte, thanks to her outstanding career and her role as a trailblazer in women’s cricket, adds significantly to the illustrious company displayed in the Pavilion. We are proud to make her portrait the latest addition to the Long Room.”
Charlotte Edwards’ inclusion marks another major step forward for women’s cricket, honouring her pivotal role in shaping the sport’s future both on the field and from the sidelines.
Name of Author: Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a historic cricket club founded in 1787, based at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London since 1814.
