Sarah Taylor Appointed England's First Female Men's Coach
Former England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has been appointed as the first female coach for the men's senior international team, serving as fielding coach for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand starting June 4 at Lord's in London.
The 36-year-old Taylor, a two-time Women's World Cup winner who retired in 2019 after 226 international appearances, steps in on a short-term basis for Carl Hopkinson. Hopkinson is currently with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. England Director of Cricket Rob Key praised her expertise, saying, "She's simply one of the best in the business at what she does. We've been thoroughly, unbelievably impressed with her and the way that she goes about her business." Key noted that Taylor has worked closely with Andrew Flintoff and performance director Ed Barney, who spoke highly of her contributions.
The appointment coincides with a reshaped squad under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, signaling a reset ahead of a packed home summer. England dropped opener Zak Crawley following a slow start to the County Championship season and overlooked Ollie Pope, who was axed during the Australia tour. Instead, uncapped Durham...