CAROLINE Atkins lifted the ICC World Twenty20 cup on home soil and then turned her attentions to a demolition job on Australia.

Bournemouth University staffer Atkins helped England claim a second world trophy in three months following their four-wicket World Cup final victory over New Zealand in Sydney at the end of March.

But England’s next test in what is turning out to be glittering summer will be to keep hold of the Ashes at Worcestershire’s New Road on July 10 – with BU Elite Athlete Services manager Atkins certain to be a key figure in England’s defence of the little urn.

Atkins, whose side did the double over the New Zealand with a six-wicket win at Lord’s on Sunday, told the Echo: “We were all really excited about playing in front of a big crowd at Lord’s and that usually brings the best out of us.

“It was an awesome bowling performance backed up by some brilliant fielding.

“It was so special and on the day we deserved to win it.

“The series against Australia will be interesting and we have another Twenty20 match at Derby during that, five one-day internationals and the one-off Ashes Test.

“That’s a huge challenge for us and we need to play these teams as often as we can.

“We meet up again tomorrow ahead of the Australia series. I’m really excited about that and I’m hoping to slip back into the top-order for those games.”

Despite top-scoring with 40 in the victorious Sydney final, Atkins’s batting skills were not required on Sunday as England cruised to their target after restricting the Kiwis to just 85 from 20 overs.

A devastating spell of high-class swing bowling from Katherine Brunt (3-6) put the White Ferns on the back foot, before Claire Taylor’s unbeaten 39 paved the way for England’s victory with 18 balls to spare.

But despite those starring performances, Atkins reserved special praise for captain Charlotte Edwards.

The 28-year-old, who is on a year-long sabbatical from her role at the university, added: “I was thinking in the field that it would be a low score so I was wondering if I would get a bat, but I enjoyed the day in the field.

“Charlotte’s job is made easier by performances like Sunday where the bowlers were phenomenal, but there are times when we have made her job more stressful by not performing too well.

“She does an awesome job and she’s really inspirational as a leader. She’s not fazed by anything and just gets on with it.”