5th March 2005

Jane has been rated as the best ladies wicket keeper in the world and achieved her No 1 ranking when she broke the world record of 84 wicket keeping dismissals during the 2000 season - she then went on to take her 100^th international dismissal when she caught Mason off Clare Taylor's bowling on 3^rd July 2001 - significantly this was at Lords in the 3^rd One Day International against Australia.

Jane has now played in 78 ODI Matches taking a total of 53 catches and 36 stumpings - she has also played in 15 Test Matches taking 22 catches and 2 stumpings giving her an overall total of 113 international dismissals upto and including the 2004 season. We wait to see if she adds to this total during the World Cup in South Africa during March/April 2005.

14^th March 2005

"We're going out there to bring the Trophy back" - that was the message from Ilkeston Cricketer Jane Smit as she set off for South Africa with the England Ladies Cricket Team.

The 32 year old wicketkeeper flew out last week in preparation for the tournament which starts on Tuesday 22 March 2005.

Jane said "The confidence is high at the moment and the talent is there. We have a good blend of youth and experience and I think this is the most prepared and the most confident set of girls we've ever had. We believe we can do it.

Jane added "Australia are our main rivals and we've got them in the first game, so if we can beat them it will send out a strong message".

Jane and medium-pace bowler Clare Taylor are the only survivors from England's World Cup winning side which won the Trophy at Lords in 1993.

"I made my England debut in Australia in 1992" Jane added. "I was 19 and it was a brilliant experience, even though I was reserve 'keeper and didn't play much cricket.

"The World Cup in 1993 was the first tournament where I was first choice keeper and it was absolutely fantastic. The memories are fading a little but I still remember how I could not sleep the night before the final.

"I don't normally get nervous before a match but that was something special - it is the worst I have ever felt whilst playing cricket. Usually only a handful of spectators watch when you play locally but there were 6,000 at Lords against New Zealand that day, the most I'd ever played in front of .

"My family were all there and I remember my first catch was a big skier. My heart was pounding as I got underneath it!"

Although Jane is the most successful wicketkeeper ever in the women's game, her achievements with the bat see her also holding a share of the one-day records for England's fourth and fifth wicket partnerships.

These were for an unbeaten partnership of 131 with Charlotte Edwards at Pune in India in 1997 - see picture - Jane & Charlotte.jpg - and an undefeated 188 with Claire Taylor at Lincoln in New Zealand in 2003.

As well as appearing in the biggest cricket tournament on the Women's world stage, she has also played in the European Cup and has travelled all over the globe. One of her most vivid memories was when England played a ODI in front of 17,000 fans in India - an experience never to be forgotten.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn passed on his best wishes to the England team ahead of the Women's World Cup 2005 when they attended a reception at the House of Commons on Monday evening.

The ECB teamed up with the Women’s Sports Foundation to officially launch the start of the England team's campaign as they prepare to fly out to South Africa for the tournament, which begins on 22 March 2005.

The event also recognised the huge strides that have been made within women's cricket in England over recent years, with record numbers of girls now taking up the sport.

Caborn believes victory at the World Cup, which would be celebrated with a reception at Downing Street, would be just reward for the vast improvements made in women's cricket and he is hoping Clare Connor's side can replace Australia as the top-ranked team in the world.

He told ecb.co.uk: "The World Cup will be a fantastic inspiration and there's no doubt that the ECB, along with the English Institute of Sport, have been investing very heavily and the Academy in Loughborough has been a tremendous boost for the women's cricket team.

"I think that, linked with the EIS, gives them a real chance of coming back with the first prize. Yes, they are ranked second in the world, but I'm pretty sure now with the preparations they've gone through that they could well beat the Australians and come back with the silverware."

With the Ashes series to follow in the summer, it is a huge year for women's cricket in England and Caborn acknowledged the progress already made.

"What now is very pleasing is the number of young people that are both coming into sport and cricket," he added. "There has been an increase of 60 per cent over the last few years of young women and girls playing cricket.

"There's no doubt there has been a renaissance in cricket across the board, with more young people now under coaching in cricket than we've had for many, many years. That's really pleasing because I think that will then feed through into the women's team and the England team led by Michael Vaughan."

For the players, the reception provided them with a chance to pay their thanks to the support network of coaches and sponsors which is now in place to continually raise standards in the game.

Connor has led England's revival since the last World Cup, and said: "It is an honour to captain this fantastic group of players. I really can't speak highly enough of them, their attitude, spirit and work ethic make my role very simple.

Captain Clare Connor is determined to lead England to World Cup glory in South Africa "But the journey extends beyond the players and I want to take this opportunity to offer some sincere thank-yous on behalf of the World Cup squad.

"To everyone at the England & Wales Cricket Board who have worked tirelessly to raise standards in our sport. The women's game is in the shape of its life in this country and thanks in particular to the director of women's cricket, Gill McConway, and our head coach Richard Bates, who have continued to pioneer the changes for that to be the case.

"Thanks also to everyone who has ever bought a lottery ticket and to Sport England. Our consistent levels of funding over the last few years have enabled us to work and train in equal measures so that we are physically, technically and mentally ready.

"To the English Institute of Sport whose strength and conditioning coaches, co-ordinated by Sam Bradley, have committed high levels of support to ensure we are in the best physical shape as we embark on a demanding World Cup schedule.

"To all our regional coaches, our one-to-one coaches, our Academy directors and the specialists who have worked with us at our training camps. Their expertise and belief in us has made a huge difference.

"To our team sponsor Vodafone; we would not be an England team capable of taking on any country in the world had it not been for their ongoing financial input into the game in this country. Thanks also to NatWest and npower, who have recently come on board to sponsor our home international series.

"We are achieving a level of equity in cricket which previous generations of female cricketers could only have dreamt of and the support of our sponsors is invaluable to that.

"I can assure you that we've left no stone unturned in our preparations for this World Cup. The girls intend to prove that to everybody as we embark on this final but most exciting leg of the journey."

By Andy McDermott