England head coach Charlotte Edwards confirms her players have "100%" addressed fitness concerns that plagued the team before her appointment. The physical condition of England players became a hot topic following their early exit from the Women's T20 World Cup 18 months ago, with former spinner Alex Hartley criticizing some players for "letting the team down" in terms of fitness levels.

Athleticism concerns resurfaced during the Ashes in January 2025, with former coach Jon Lewis attributing it to cultural differences between the UK and Australia. Edwards introduced fitness standards when replacing Lewis last year and will celebrate a year in charge Wednesday before hosting the T20 World Cup this summer, where their improved fitness will be tested.

Edwards emphasized players have "fully bought into" the new benchmarks implemented over winter. "The results are all so high. I couldn't be more chuffed - we've made real progress," she said, pointing to improved fielding during the recent intra-squad series as evidence of the team's enhanced physical capabilities under her leadership.