Wednesday 11 May 2016 16:50, UK
England captain Charlotte Edwards has announced that she is retiring from international cricket.
The 36-year-old quits after a magnificent career and is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the history of the women's game in England.
A prolific right-handed batsman, who also bowled leg breaks, Edwards was named the ICC women's cricketer of the year in 2008, was awarded the MBE in 2009, and became just the second woman to be honoured as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year in 2014.
She admitted she would like to have carried on playing but with coach Mark Robinson wanting to blood some new players, Edwards has agreed to step down.
"Everyone who knows me - and how much I love playing for England - will appreciate what a difficult decision it has been for me to retire from international cricket," she said.
"It's a decision I've reached after much thought and detailed discussion with Mark Robinson and [director of England women's cricket] Clare Connor about what is best for the team going forward.
"I believe now is the right time for a new captain to lead the team forward and for young players to be given more opportunities to make their mark on the international game.
"After honest and open discussions with Mark, it became clear that he wants to build a new team and I fully support that. I would have loved to have carried on and whilst I am disappointed that I won't be doing so, I fully understand and respect what Mark is looking to do. This is a new era and he wants other players to come to the fore to build a strong team."
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: "Charlotte Edwards has been at the heart of the England women's team and a major force in international women's cricket for two decades.
"Her outstanding achievements in the game during that time are unrivalled, and in many aspects, are unlikely to ever be surpassed. She is a credit to her country and our sport, and deserves nothing but celebration and enormous respect for the way in which she has played the game over the last 20 years."
She made her debut for England in 1995, the youngest player ever to do so at the time, and has represented her country in 23 Tests, 191 one-day internationals and 95 T20 internationals.
Having piled up the runs during her first decade in international cricket, Edwards took charge of the side in 2005 and was named skipper on a permanent basis the following year.
England have generally been very successful under Edwards' astute leadership and 2009 was a particularly golden year, kicked off by victory in the World Cup in Australia.
The team went on to claim the World Twenty20 Championship on home soil that summer and subsequent successes include back-to-back victories in the Ashes series of 2013 and 2013-14.
England have fallen short in global events over the past couple of years but Edwards remains a top performer at the highest level and won two player-of-the-match awards at the World Twenty20 earlier this year.
However, England's disappointing loss to Australia in the semi-finals of that event prompted speculation about Edwards' position.
The first player - male or female - to score 2,500 runs in T20 internationals, Edwards retires from international cricket as one of its most respected and accomplished performers.
Edwards will continue to play domestic cricket, captaining the Southern Vipers in the inaugural Kia Super League this summer, alongside leading Kent in the Royal London Women's One-Day Championship.
