Lisa Keightley appointed England women's head coach
Former Australia international Lisa Keightley is all set to replace Mark Robinson to become the first woman to become the head coach of an international team. Keightley expressed her excitement to lead a competitive English side and promised to bring a visible change in the team.
After Mark Robinson stepped down earlier this year, former Australian international Lisa Keightley is all set to take the reins of England's women's team. Keightley is the first female to take up the role full time and will be joining the squad in January next year. Keightley is currently appointed as the coach of Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League and will be stepping down as the coach of London Spirit Team in Hundred to focus on the English national team.
After a glorious stint under Robinson when England went on to lift the World Cup in 2017, the progress of the team came to an almost dead stop. A humiliating Ashes defeat this summer lead to change in the coaching staff as Keightley was appointed by a panel including Managing Director of Women's Cricket Clare Connor and ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison, to guide the English women's team back to glory.
"I'm massively excited. It's a huge opportunity," Keightley told Cricbuzz. "It's a team full of world-class players and to be given the chance to work with some of the players who I worked with a few years ago is really exciting. I can't wait to get started and see where we can get to.
"England are the current 50-over World Champions and they made it to the final of the last ICC Women's T20 WC. They're a very competitive side and they wouldn't be in big matches like that if they didn't have a really strong group of players who can perform on the big stage. I'm really looking forward to getting underway and helping the team progress."
While Keightley's first task will be a tri-series involving India and Australia but her actual test will be the upcoming T20 World Cup Down Under as England would look the turn the silver medals they won in West Indies, in the previous edition, into gold. In the meantime, interim coach Alistair Maiden will continue to lead the squad in the meantime, including for the ICC Women's Championship series against Pakistan in December which is being played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.