By Paul Grunill

Clare Connor is a hard act to follow.

Edwards places her field during the Taunton Test match

But Charlotte Edwards believes she has reason to feel satisfied after her first home series as captain of the England women's team.

The summer did not end as she would have wished, with England succumbing to a five-wicket Test defeat by India at Taunton.

Success in the one-day series, however, has convinced Edwards that her new-look side are on the right track for the future.

As well as Connor, England also lost Arran Brindle, who decided in June that she wanted to take a break from top-level sport, and Katherine Brunt's involvement against India was hampered by injury.

Their exit, however, has created opportunities for the likes of Sarah Taylor, Holly Colvin and Laura Marsh and despite their youth, they have all shown a liking for international cricket.

"Ultimately we're judged on our one-day cricket and to win that 4-0 was really fantastic for us as a new group of players," Edwards told BBC Sport.

"The Test (at Taunton) was important, but we've got a really young team who've played hardly any Test cricket and that showed in the end."

Not having a strike bowler like Katherine Brunt at Taunton was a blow Charlotte Edwards

England needed to bat out the final day of the second Test at Taunton to secure a draw, but seamer Jhulan Goswami's second five-wicket haul of the game left India with a target of only 98 and they duly knocked off the runs.

Edwards made a century in England's second innings before falling to Goswami but admitted the enjoyment of her achievement had been muted by losing the game.

"I had to dig in and lead from the front and I was really pleased with it. I should have batted through the final day but I did as much as I could and I'm looking forward to getting a few more hopefully in the future.

"It nipped away a little bit, I went to drive it and it was a really good catch at second slip. You win some, you lose some," she said.

Edwards praised opener Caroline Atkins, who batted for over six hours in the second innings for 68 after England had been forced to follow on.

They shared a stand of 178, which was an England record for the third wicket.

"She was awesome. Mentally, she's a very tough player. You'd take her in the trenches with you, she fights really hard.

"She got quite an unlucky lbw or I think she was definitely going on to get her first hundred, which she deserved for the effort she put into her innings," Edwards commented.

Holly Colvin - England's senior spinner at the age of 16

England's next assignment is a trip to India next February for a four-nation tournament, also involving World Cup holders Australia and New Zealand.

"That's going to be a massive tour for us, to see where we're at and where the other teams are at. They've lost a few players, we've lost a few but we've rebuilt really well.

"The team are under no illusions, it's going to be hard. It's going to be a real character-building tour for us all, but it's something we're all looking forward to," said Edwards.

Winning the next World Cup in 2009 is the ultimate goal and Edwards believes strengthening the bowling attack is one area England need to address.

But she added: "It's just about giving these girls experience leading up to the World Cup, getting them in pressurised situations as much as we can."

For Edwards, herself a youthful 26, there are exciting times ahead.