By Jon Batham for LastWordOnCricket
Tammy Beaumont has thanked England coach Mark Robinson for setting her free to be instinctive again.
Beaumont was named Player of the Tournament in the wake of England’s historic triumph over India in the Women’s World Cup Final at Lord’s on Sunday.
The opener’s tally of 410 was enough to leave her top of the world’s elite run-makers on the greatest stage.
Beaumont is truly a woman transformed. No stranger to the international scene, she made her ODI debut as far back as 2009. A Test bow came four years later against Australia.
Yet, loss of form and confidence meant just a year ago there seemed more chance of Beaumont watching the World Cup from the stands than starring in it.
Robinson, appointed coach in November 2015, was though it seems ready to take a leap of faith with the 26-year-old.
The advice was concise, don’t be caught in two minds; if you see the shot, hit it. The rest as they say is history.
“When Robbo came in I almost saw it as a second chance,” she said.
“He saw something in me, albeit as a T20 specialist at the beginning, but I lived up to that and expanded on it.
“Robbo made it very simple for me. He took away the idea of having any doubt about the kind of shot I wanted to play, telling me just commit to it.
“He told me off for ‘poking around’ were I think his words, rather than striking the ball for four or six.”
The transformation was stark. A strong partnership was struck up with Lauren Winfield, making them certain starters for the World Cup campaign.
From Bump in the Road to Top of the World
In the wake of yesterday’s celebrations though it is easy to forget Beaumont’s tournament started very differently.
Robbed of her trusted ally Winfield temporarily due to injury, Beaumont looked fretful.
She made just 14 in the opening defeat to India and was dropped first ball of the match against Pakistan. Beaumont didn’t make the most of the reprieve, falling cheaply to another rash shot.
Again, it was a timely chat with Robinson which changed her horizon.
Again, the approach was to affirm Beaumont in her ability, freeing her to relax and flow.
The following day she flayed the much-vaunted South African attack for 148. Another bump in the career road had been smoothed out.
“I’d been hitting it really nicely in the nets and coming into the tournament I’d been batting pretty well,” she added.
“I think it was a case of trying to get on with it a little bit too quickly really and giving my wicket away in a really poor manner.
“Robbo told me ‘You haven’t become a bad player overnight, we know you’ve got it in you. Just go out and do what you’ve been doing for the last year and it will happen.
“That was the night before the South Africa game, so that obviously turned the tables around for me a little bit.”
Main Photo:
