Edwards ready for the Indian challenge at home

London, July 18 (UNI) Confident of avenging the 1-4 ODI series loss against India last year, England captain Charlotte Edwards said her team would like to settle the score by toppling Mithali Raj and co as the second best team in the women's cricket rankings in the home series next month.

England drew the one-off Test that they played against the hosts last year and managed to win only the opening game of the ODI series but Edwards said she has far balanced side at her disposal, which would match the Indians in every department.

A successful series at home would also take England -- currently placed third -- to the second spot behind Australia.

The series starts this Augustand includes a Twenty20 match, five one-day internationals and two Test matches.

''I'm really happy with the balance of the side. We have good depth in the spin and pace department and an experienced batting line-up which all bodes well for the upcoming series and beyond,'' Edwards told the England and Wales Cricket Board website here.

''It was important to get some young, fresh faces in the side. It is going to be a big summer for the youngsters. They put their hands up to be counted in the domestic game and it gave the selectors a real headache,'' she added about the new faces in the England team.

The hosts have brought in Sarah Taylor, Lynsey Askew and Holly Colvin, who made her debut in the Ashes series last summer. Edwards said she was confident about the trio doing well in the upcoming series.

''I think it is because they are so young that they appear so fearless. They are a little naive and that helps them overcome any worries they may have and enables them to go out there and have fun and express themselves,'' the England captain said.

The 26-year-old recalled the tour of India and admitted that the sub-continental opponents would be tough to beat here as well but asserted that her young team would rise up to the challenge.

''We firmly believe that we are at par with them, plus we will have the home crowd behind us, the wickets will suit our players and we will have an aggressive, fit young team out there,'' she said.

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