Caroline Atkins has set a benchmark, along with Sarah Taylor © Getty Images

We approached the South Africa series, which we won 4-0, how we needed to. The aim was to go out there and play cricket the way we can, which was highlighted in the game at Lord's.


There are still a lot of areas to improve, which we will sit down and work out for ourselves. We've got areas we definitely need to improve individually. We just need to build more partnerships with the batting; with bowling we need to keep hitting the right areas. But every bowler's had a chance to bowl and every batter's had a chance to bat, so we are all in form.

Lord's in particular was a great game to watch, we fired on all cylinders and the team spirit was great. Being at Lord's is always one of the best places to play or be and a game like that is what we want to work towards being our baseline. We always want to approach our cricket looking to achieve big partnerships, strong bowling performances, and big displays in the field in every game.

For me as an opener, watching Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins make the highest opening partnership inspired me as a batter and I feel has set the bar for future England performances. Both of these girls are good friends of mine and I really enjoyed watching them cash in and do what we all know they are capable of.

From a personal level it's good because it ups the ante and I enjoy it more when the competition is heating up. I think it's healthy competition, it's what we need in the team. It's also good to know that if someone isn't performing, there is someone else with the ability to come in and perform . It gets me focussed more to make sure I do a good job when I get in there.

I also have to be realistic. I've only played two games for England as a batter. So you can't expect excessive amounts but when you do go out there you have to play to your gameplan and that's all you can ever do.

The first game I played I hit 45 and I was happy with how I approached it. Obviously I was nervous but I watched the ball and got my eye in and played the way I play – I hit over the top; it's my natural game.

The second game was a bit different, I came in at 3 which is rare – I'm usually either opening (which I prefer) or lower order – I still felt I played to my gameplan. I only got 17 off 19 balls, but I was pleased with the way I approached it - taking on the spinners, cutting the short ones - but unfortunately I got out pushing one trying to be too aggressive.

I have to learn when to rein it back but I am happy with my approach and it will be a matter of time before things start to kick on better. I like to open, but obviously I'll do what's best for the team.

Now we have the three Twenty20s coming up against South Africa. A lot of us haven't played Twenty20 so this is a good chance to think about how we want to approach next year's World Twenty20.