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 | | Friday, 12 April, 2002, 11:17 GMT 12:17 UK Atkins upbeat for future  Atkins is already gearing up for the summer BBC Sport Online's Matthew Allen talks to Caroline Atkins about a busy summer ahead for the England women's team. Despite a disappointing winter tour to India, England have embarked on a five-year plan to re-establish themselves as one of the top two women's sides in the world. Among the players likely to play a significant part in striving to achieve that objective is 21-year-old opener Caroline Atkins. She shared in a women's Test record first wicket stand of 200 with Arran Thompson against India in Lucknow in January. And despite their overall results, she believes they are shaping up to challenge the best in the world. As in the men's game, it is Australia who set the standards. "We are aiming to be one of the top two teams by 2007.We have a way to go yet, but we showed in India that we are improving all the time," said Atkins.
"We grew in confidence over the winter. By the second and third weeks in India we showed significant improvement and had we stayed longer we would have done even better. "But it was disappointing only to draw the Test and to lose the one-day series. We have got to compete more and do better." She added: "We attracted attention with our world record stand but we need to win matches raise out profile and attract bigger crowds. After all, it is more fun to watch a winning team. New challenges "The crowds in India were fantastic and we played to 4,000 supporters who were banging bottles together and making a real din. "It was an amazing experience and all of us want to have that buzz on a regular basis." The women's season kicks off in May with the start of a new Super Fours competition that has been designed to give England's top players tougher domestic competition. A total of 48 players from 11 counties have been divided into four teams to play a round robin tournament.
After that, England will then face the might of World Cup holders New Zealand and India in an international tri-series in July. "The Super Fours series is going to have a big impact. It will be the best playing against the best and we need that level of competition to move forwards," said Atkins. "I am really looking forward to the tri-series that will give us a chance to measure ourselves against top quality international teams. There is no better competition than playing against the best in the world." For Atkins, who is studying a Sport in the Community degree at Durham, the action cannot start soon enough. The Sussex star is determined to build on the success of scoring 90 during the record stand in Lucknow, and only her studying stands in the way. "My first big innings has cemented my place in the side and has given me the confidence that I can do it at international level," she said. "Being a final year student gets in the way of my cricket. I can't wait to finish studying. I am ready to finish and concentrate on my cricket." | | See also:  Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Other top Cricket stories: Links to more Cricket stories are at the foot of the page. | ||
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