Snehasis Mukherjee in Guwahati
The 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup final remains one of the most emotional chapters in Indian women’s cricket history. That narrow nine-run defeat at Lord’s still stings, as England lifted the trophy in front of a jubilant home crowd. Guiding that historic triumph was Mark Robinson OBE, then head coach of England.
Now, with the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup all set to begin on September 30, Robinson has reflected on the tournament and shared his views on several key aspects. He spoke about England’s current squad and their strengths, India’s chances of capitalising on home conditions, the omission of Kate Cross, the influence of Charlotte Edwards, the leadership of skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, that famous 2017 triumph and much more.
Your view on the England squad?
Well, they have had a difficult period. So that is the first challenge. They have to try and get some confidence and momentum in the tournament to give them the best chance. They have got a lot of bases covered in the squad in terms of quality seamers, and good spinners.
But it is just that confidence. What they do not want is some of those scars, which had started to heal after the summer, to open up again and start to bleed. And then we know what can happen in sport.
Were you surprised not to see Kate Cross in the squad?
Look, it is difficult because I have been where Charlotte Edwards is, and she is a relatively young coach in international cricket.
But she has done an outstanding job so far in the roles that she has had. And this is her first go with England. I know when you make selection decisions, it is not always popular, but you have got the information.
You are seeing your players daily and weekly, so you have got all the knowledge. From the outside, maybe it looks like they are possibly a seamer short.
They have made an assumption that the wickets are going to turn and suit the spinners. But we know it is early season in India weather-wise. From my experience in India, you can get anything.
You can get really flat wickets and quick outfields, and you can also get slower wickets like Chennai. So, it will depend on where you play.
So, there is a definite argument for Kate Cross to be there. She has had a good summer. She was injured for a while previously, but she has done well with her county, Lancashire.
And as you said, she is experienced. What they will be hoping is that Nat Sciver can stay fit. If Nat Sciver goes down, they look a little bit vulnerable in the seam department.
Words on Nat Sciver-Brunt, the captain?
Well, look, Nat is a very calm person. She is a very caring individual. She will lead differently to Heather [Knight]. Heather was a little bit more upfront, a bit more in your face, and a bit more aggressive in what she did.
Again, equally caring. Nat will be ultra-calm and let the players do a lot more of the talking. She is not as natural with the media as Heather is. They are just different. Heather was, for me, outstanding in my time as a leader. I think Nat will just take a little bit of time to find her own identity.
What she is, is one of the best players in the world. I think there are few who can match her batting powers. Her fielding has declined slightly due to some physical issues, but she is still a very good fielder and a more than handy bowler.
So, for me, England have not only what will hopefully be a good captain but also one of the best players in the world — and that will carry them forward.
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Her bowling will be crucial?
It needs to be. I think, looking at how they balance the team, she can swing it. She has opened the bowling in World Cups previously for England, including the T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
We went in with heavy spin and she opened the bowling and did well. She can swing it — it is just her body. Her body has had a few issues over the last couple of years. They really need her to stay fit because it allows them to have another seamer in the team and maybe play that sixth bowler, which all teams are desperate for.
Every team wants all-rounders. I think India are starting to get some all-rounders, which has given them more depth and makes them a better team.
And South Africa have not really found that yet. Everybody is desperate for all-rounders because it lengthens the tail and reduces vulnerability to collapses.
Heather Knight, still an important member in that middle order?
Look, Nat, Heather, and Tammy Beaumont — the World Cup winners — have been there. They have seen everything. They know what it is like to fail, but they also know what it means to win.
And they will be relying on all three. Heather is an outstanding individual. She led England very well for a number of years and she will be desperate to get more silverware, to taste that champagne they tasted at Lord’s in 2017. She will want that again and she will want to help Nat in all she can. But first and foremost, she will be there to score runs.
She had some time out with a hamstring injury, which may have done her good. But she will be ready to go and as I say, it will be a blessing for England to have her back.
How impressed have you been so far with Charlotte Edwards?
Well, it is slow progress. What Charlotte, as a head coach, will be doing is getting to know her players.
I remember when I took over, we went to South Africa and I learned a lot about the players. But then, we went to a World Cup in India and I learned even more. And we decided we had to make some changes to get the success that came later.
And Charlotte will be the same. She will still be finding out about her players. She would have learned a lot this summer. But a lot of it will be about trying to rebuild the confidence that has taken a bit of a battering. They have had a difficult summer. They have not been perfect.
They have continued to drop catches and not field at the level required, which again is a sign of fragility. But as I say, Charlotte’s job will be to give clarity. I think that is the first thing you give.
You try to give clarity to players. You try to give calmness. You give players strategies to help cope with pressure, especially when things go wrong. And that will be what she and her staff will be trying to do.
Do you think just before the World Cup, a series in the subcontinent would have helped them more in terms of preparation?
I think it helps, but it is not essential. The most important thing from a head coach’s point of view is just wanting the team together. I want some space and time to work with them. I want some competitive games where we can iron things out. As I say, nobody really knows what conditions we are going to get.
The wickets might just do a little bit more. I have been to Sri Lanka and India where we have had the best flat batting wickets, and also where it has turned. So, I think you have to go very open-minded. That is one thing I have learned about the subcontinent.
You go with a squad that can adapt to conditions. The heat will be the biggest factor sometimes. But many of these players are experienced and have played in India over the years. So often, it is about which team hits the ground running and adapts the quickest — that team will have the most success.
What about Em Arlott? Does she bring that perfect balance with her all-round ability?
A lot of us have been aware of Em Arlott for quite a long time. The previous coach, John Lewis, tried to bring her in as well, but she was not quite ready.
Charlotte has managed to get her in and make her comfortable in the environment. She is an outstanding cricketer. She can bat. There is more to come with her batting, so she will give depth to the order. She has got good slower balls.
She can bowl at the death, in the middle, and up front. And she is a good fielder as well. Arlott is a good cricketer. She has been around for a little while. She is a bit more mature now too. So, I am expecting and hoping she will have a great World Cup.
Happy with the spin unit for England?
Look, you get two types of spin in the women’s game. You get what we would call old-fashioned spinners who actually spin the ball and make it move sideways. And you get slow bowlers who do not spin much, but they are tricky because of their flight and control.
Well, England have got the best finger spinner in the world in Sophie Ecclestone. In India, they have the best spinning all-rounder in Deepti Sharma. Maybe Ash Gardner would challenge her for that.
And then I think the other Indian spinners are developing. They had a young left-armer, N Shree Charani, who looked like she might have struggled in the field a bit, but she looked promising. Radha Yadav has always been around. So, I think the Indian spinners can do a job led by Deepti.
But England have a lot of bases covered. They have put a lot of effort into their spinners. What they miss is a big leg-spinner who can really rip the ball.
Like Amanda-Jade Wellington or Alana King for Australia. Georgia Wareham is a bit different — she bowls more skiddy, straight-on balls that hit the pads. Sarah Glenn is that type too. And I think England just lack that big leg-spinner.
New Zealand have Amelia Kerr, don’t they? India probably do not have that type of leg-spinner now themselves. We used to think we could get India five or six down, and you were through them. But it is not the case anymore.
Can you recall that 2017 WC final win over India? What was the atmosphere like?
First of all, what an occasion. It was a watershed moment for women’s sport at that point, wasn’t it? To sell out Lord’s. And I think we had the perfect final against India, without offence to Australia. Because we had all the patriotism from the Indian crowd along with the English.
And we had huge TV viewership around the world. To sell out Lord’s was outstanding. India had just hammered Australia. They had already beaten us in the group stage — the only game we lost. We beat Australia in the group, but lost to India. So, we knew we were in for a tough game.
We batted first, which was a good toss to win because the wicket slowed down as it went on. But India batted really well. The young opener, Punam Raut, played outstandingly. She got 86 in the group game as well. They got into a position where you do not want to lose. But it was a funny one watching. I always felt we were OK.
The only moment of doubt I had was when Anya Shrubsole came back and Raut hit her for consecutive fours. That was the only time I thought it might slip. But Anya got her out in that over.
For me, it felt inevitable. Although the equation was not big in terms of runs per wicket, the conditions were not easy. And I just felt we were always creating half-chances.
Looking back now, when I watch the highlights, I cannot help but think: how on earth did we win that game? It was interesting that my feelings at the time were different — then, I felt confident. Watching later without the emotion, it felt much tighter.
How do you see Team India’s chances in this World Cup?
I think the bowling is vulnerable, if I am honest. The batting has much more depth now. And they have got some all-rounders, which definitely helps. But I think the bowling is average.
They have got some OK spinners. Deepti Sharma is outstanding, and the rest are potentially good. But there is some vulnerability in the bowling department. Still, they are heading in the right direction.
They could upset anybody because of their batting strength and they will be supported by amazing crowds in India. That is also a challenge — how they cope with that pressure.
When we won the World Cup at home, we did a lot of work on handling the pressure of playing in front of big home crowds. We planned how to keep pressure off the girls and block out the noise, so they could focus on performing.
India will need to do the same. I love how they are progressing. They still have work to do with their bowling, but with their batting and the all-rounders, they are exciting to watch.
Your top four predictions?
England’s minimum requirement should be a semi-final, but ideally a final. So, you would have to say England will get there. Australia have to be favourites.
I am not quite sure their bowling is as strong as it was, but the fascinating one is India. If India can make the crowd work for them, they could build momentum and grow into the tournament. But if they start poorly and feel the pressure of being the home team, they might struggle.
So, I will get off the fence and give my prediction: I think it will be an England–India final. A repeat of 2017.