TAUNTON has always been the favourite ground of Charlotte Edwards the former captain of England Women’s cricket team and on Monday she was back at the ground commentating on the Test Match between England and South Africa, writes Richard Walsh.

Edwards made her England debut back in 1996 at the age of just 16 and between then and 2016 she played 23 Women’s Test Matches in which she enjoyed an average of 44.10, 191 Women’s ODI scoring 5992 runs at 38.16, she played in 96 Women’s T20I scoring 2605 at 32.97 and 407 Women’s List A games in which she totalled 16,644 runs at an average of 51.85.

During a break from her commentary duties one of the icons of the women’s game told me: “ I have played a lot here over the years and it has always been a favourite ground of mine.

"I have scored a lot of runs here including my first century and won a lot of games for England here. It’s a special ground and it’s always lovely to come back."

“There seems to be a genuine love for the game here from the fans and of women’s cricket. You feel quite close to the fans as a player so its lovely place to play. Everyone loves to come back to Taunton and hopefully it’s a place they will continue to keep on coming.”

Charlotte Edwards was England Women’s Captain when the ground was launched as the Home of Women’s Cricket in 2006.

"I can see why it was made that because of the affiliation that we have had with the ground over a number of years. We have played some massive games here and it is always part of a Women’s International summer so I think its important that we have that association with a ground like Taunton.

During the course of her career the women’s game changed dramatically.

“The game has developed so much since I started to play and it’s very different now. It has moved at a rapid rate in the last 10 years and we have all been lucky enough to have been on that journey with the game.

“To be playing Test cricket here at Taunton again is really great and to see so many young boys and girls in the ground is so good.

“The best message that you can give to any young girl now is that there is a career in women’s cricket, which I guess the likes of me and Anya never thought we’d be able to say that when we were growing up. This is a hugely exciting time to be involved and where ever you are from ,there is an opportunity to have a career in the game - which is a powerful message.”

She added: “Somerset were one of the first counties to recognise women’s cricket, they supported it and they invested which was so important and we are really thankful for what they have done down here to support the women’s game.”