Tammy Beaumont: I must start scoring big

Eyes on the prize: Tammy Beaumont is pictured (left) handing out the Chance to Shine Participant of the year award  to Jaz Smith alongside Kate Cross

By Joshua Peck

TAMMY Beaumont is focused on a return to England duty after agonisingly missing out on this year’s Women’s Ashes defeat.

Beaumont, 24, last played for her country over a year ago, as part of the ODI team that beat India.

She was out for a golden duck on that day, but is determined to work hard as England prepare to tour South Africa for a limited-overs series in February.

Beaumont said: “There is a lot of time to train and improve before the South Africa tour to try and push to get into that squad. I’m spending the winter at Loughborough and will be working hard, getting my fitness up.

“I had an okay season this year. I had a lot of good starts, but would have liked to get a few more big scores and got in that Ashes team.”

Beaumont did get a taste of what it was like to face the touring Australians this summer as captain of the England Academy Women. She led the team to a draw in a two-day game, but it wasn’t without its challenges.

Beaumont added: “It was really good fun to get to captain against the best side in the world, and a great challenge. We got Meg Lanning out first ball in one game and Ellyse Perry walked in so it wasn’t easy.

“It was the first time I got to captain a two or three-day game so it was great for me, and, hopefully, the experience will help me in the future.”

If Beaumont does get back into the England set-up, it will be under a different coach.

Paul Shaw is stepping down as head of performance after the summer’s Ashes defeat, and ECB’s head of women’s cricket Clare Connor has recently said the side hope to appoint a man with international experience as their new head coach.

And for Beaumont, anybody that offers something different is sure to benefit England as they look to progress.

She said: “As long as the person is right for the job, it doesn’t matter whether they are male or female. If they’ve got the right credentials, and been there done that, in county cricket and international cricket in the men’s game then that would bring a lot to our game.

“If the right person came along that has all that experience in women’s international cricket, they wouldn’t be out of place either. Anyone that gets the job will have a lot to offer and it will be great to learn from someone new.”

Tammy Beaumont was supporting the Chance to Shine Annual Awards. The Awards recognise the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to spread the power of cricket in schools across the country. Chancetoshine.org

This piece originally featured in The Cricket Paper on Friday October 9, 2015