Edwards delighted by MBE honour

Edwards is currently captaining England in the World Twenty20

England women's captain Charlotte Edwards admitted to feeling "really chuffed" after being honoured with an MBE for services to sport.

"It's a huge honour and after the amazing year I have had, this has topped it off perfectly," she said.

The 29-year-old from Huntingdon led England to victory over New Zealand in the Women's World Cup final in March.

And the team hopes to pick up a second trophy later this month in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament.

England made a good start on Thursday when they beat India by 10 wickets at Taunton in their opening match.

"I was completely surprised but very proud when I found out (about the MBE) and now I'm just looking forward to trying to make it another memorable year," said Edwards.

An international cricketer since the age of 16, Edwards has played 17 Test matches, 124 one-day internationals and 11 Twenty20 matches for England and scored a combined total of more than 5,000 runs.

She inherited the captaincy from Clare Connor, now the head of English women's cricket, in March 2006 and was in charge last year when England retained the women's Ashes by beating Australia in a one-off Test at Bowral.

Last September, she was named Women's Cricketer of the Year at an award ceremony in Dubai and that was followed by her greatest achievement so far when England won the World Cup for the first time in 16 years.