A rare moment for Ebony in this jam-packed summer - not being in cricket clothes © Christopher Lee

The South Africans have arrived ready for the one-day series. I haven't seen them much, but I know they played England A in a Twenty20 yesterday. It was a close game and they put up a good contest - and they're just warming up, having just got here.

We don't know too much about them – we haven't really got any footage of the bowlers - but we are feeling very confident. We should do, we're playing a lot of good cricket and having a lot of international success at the moment and I see no reason why we shouldn't continue that and do what we need to do and keep our standards up.

Cricket is one of those things where, it sounds boring, but you've got to do the basics well. We need to just get out there, see what challenge we need to do well and do what we need to do. If we bowl the lines and lengths we want to do and bat the way we want to bat, we should see what we need to do to take the series.

Our opening match will be an interesting challenge. It's at Canterbury on a different pitch for me; I've not played there before. There's a bit of a slope, which may be like Lord's – which is where we are playing our second match – so we will have to take things in consideration.

There was a rain interruption today for our final day of training before tomorrow's series opener at Canterbury. We managed to get in everything we needed to do today. It went pretty well but obviously a bit rain-affected. Everything's working well.

The County Championships were a good preparation leading up to the tour. I did all right, a few 30s and there were a few low pitches. Timing-wise, I'm seeing it well, hitting it well, so I'm comfortable and my team, Surrey, won our division. Everyone got a good three days' solid practice before joining up with the camp.

A final note on the Champs, as they're changing format next year. It's always been nice when everyone goes to the tournament when you're together – nice socially. And when we've played five days in a row, you've got to test yourself when you get tired, mentally and physically. But in terms of progress we need to go in line with the men like in ODIs.

It's more professional and it's a good idea to play more games. I hope it doesn't put people off with the commitment - a few county players for whom it's a hobby may find it too much up to go up to Lancashire and down to Somerset. But it's a positive step forward, moving in line to how we want to be – more professional.

	Isa Guha took five wickets and Ebony Rainford-Brent was unbeaten in the series clincher © Getty Images

That's no words to describe what it means to play for England, but when I got the phone call to say I was in the summer squad, I did have a little cry – for about 20 seconds, before I thought "pull yourself together".Since my last blog I've played a few Super Fours matches, finishing off one with 133 in a big stand with Lottie. It's just nice to be feeling in good form.

On top of that, I got involved in the Cricathlon on CricketAM, which is a competition to sprint with all the pads on, throw a stump like a javelin and a standing high jump. Without blowing my own trumpet, I cleaned up. It was good fun, good to get the women on TV as well.

We also launched the series on a boat going to Calais from Dover and back. We played cricket on the helipad and lost about 30 balls in the sea, it was also a chance to speak to the journalists and get some information out about the summer, which kicked off with West Indies.

Speaking of the West Indies, with having a Jamaican mum, I was asked by a journalist the other day if I felt any conflict playing against them. My answer was "No, I'm from Souf London (sic) born and bred." Obviously I'm English through and through but at home there are many Jamaican traditions – food, culture, music – which I love and respect.

West Indies themselves were an unknown quantity. I've never seen them play so I didn't know what to expect. It was the first time the sides had met in 15 years. It's extremely important to be playing them ahead of next year's World Cup and the World Twenty20. You need to have an idea what to expect so you can prepare. We're used to the Aussies, Kiwis, South Africans and Indians and it's good for world cricket.

I would say it's a good test for both teams. You can't come with any preconceived ideas or plans so therefore you have to play good cricket on the day and the best team will come out. Our team talk was just about focussing on our own game. It was just a case of "We know what we need to do and keep it simple."

We only got one half of the game in on Friday but I thought they bowled in good areas and their fielding was pretty sharp, with some good arms. Then it was nice to finish off with a competent win on Saturday when we bowled them out for 41.

We were definitely clinical and professional with how we approached our cricket with the ball, in the field and with the bat. It was a nice way to start the international summer and things must continue to improve for the next few months and the winter ahead.

Isa (Guha) was amazing with the ball. I know from facing her in the morning before the game she was moving the ball around corners and difficult to handle. She is one of the most disciplined and determined cricketers I have the honour to play with and figures of 5 for 14 demonstrated that.

For me personally I wasn't required to do much on the day. I have been asked if I miss bowling on days like that when the bowlers are cashing in, but not really to be honest. I am just grateful for the opportunity I have in front of me and it is nice to enjoy each others' success, and hopefully this is what will make us into a team to contend with.

It was really good to get the opportunity to open the batting, but by the time Squirt (Sarah Taylor) sunk her teeth into a few boundaries, the 41 required to win was on the board. She hit the best six I have seen all season, back over the bowler's head. Juicy!

The next challenge is South Africa who promise to provide good competition. It's building up to be a great summer.