England have announced that Sarah Taylor will after all join England’s pre-season training camp in the UAE, during which an England XI will play 3 non-international matches against Ireland.
Although Taylor has stayed out of the limelight for the past year, and hasn’t played any competitive cricket since the World T2o semi-final in India last March, she has remained a part of the England squad throughout that period, and has been training over the winter.
Nevertheless if she is, as England clearly hope, to make her return in time for the World Cup, she needs something more than nets at Loughborough to prepare, and hopefully this fairly low-key training camp offers that opportunity.
Additionally joining England on the camp in a coaching capacity will be recently retired Lancashire men’s captain Tom Smith, who is also going to be involved with Lancashire Thunder during KSL2.
England Head Coach Mark Robinson said:
“Bringing people [like Tom Smith] in helps further their own careers and brings continuity and quality within the coaching setup… He is fresh out of the game and is hungry to learn and develop as a coach. It’s great to get him in.”
CRICKETher 
Great news for Sarah Taylor. Let’s not put too much pressure on her and hope her progression continues.
Pleased for Tom, but why are there no female coaches on this tour?? This is Women’s Cricket after all. Or is it just cricket now…does the higher profile mean the guys, in this case with little actual coaching experience, can walk into roles, (wonder who Tom is friends with?), that may previously been given to a female coach as part of their development?
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Such great news Sarah is doing so well.
It has to be good news people of the calerba of Tom Smith are involved.
Which female coach would you have taken Andrew who is better than the ones who have gone?
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It is a huge assumption that because Tom is a good player he will be a good coach. He is only just starting out and goes straight in at England level??
People like Salliann Briggs, Caroline Atlins and Lisa Pagett have been developing and are all Level 4 coaches, and Jen Barden is on L4. Also more qualified male coaches with experience of women’s cricket. Not just about technical knowledge from playing yourself.
Tom is only just starting his coaching badges according to LCCC – so why is he being given preference?? Just asking.
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Great to finally see her back with the team!
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Its a good point you make Andrew and one that it would be good to be able to find out some more to help us understand. Your previous post though come across quite aggressive with its two question marks.
There are a lot of assumptions anyone can make here. That the people you mentioned are good enough to coach at this level.? That no female coach were actually asked? That Tom has no or little experience.
Reading the statement, it seems they wanted someone with recent playing experience and he has been doing some work with them already, so I guess they felt he was of the right standard to take.
I’m a Lancastrian and know Tom a little through been a supporter and think the woman’s game has got someone who will do a fantastic job.
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At grass roots a lot is being done to train female coaches, think CAG,county and KSL are still very much a mixed bag. A qualification does not a good coach make.
The more female L3 / L4 coaches the better and the greater the pressure to promote to key roles I hope.
If they went through the proper selection process then well and good. If they fast tracked Tom, did they consider an other candidates with International Women’s Cricket Tournament experience? I doubt it…
It is great to see the likes of Lydia & Lottie giving back to the game in their own ways, but surely their experience ahead of the ICC trophy would be invaluable.
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They did take Lydia Greenway to India recently on their spin camp. Again why must we assume they didn’t consider Lydia or others for this.
I know it’s the nature of these type of boards to be negative but it does get tiresome.
I know Lydia is coaching Kent which I doubt she is getting paid for but Lottie is a paid employee now of Hampshire isn’t she?
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I’m not saying that female coaches or players should be given preferential treatment but the ECB refused Allan Donald an assistant coaching role at Kent as he doesn’t have an ECB L3 coaching qualification.
At some point we need ‘One Game’ and the ECB need to apply consistent standards.
I would suggest that international tournament experience is the only thing lacking from the current coaching set-up.
The biggest positive I would like to see is a strong female team with female management and coaching staff. Hopefully the KSL will build momentum in this area.
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I think it’s great Tom is out there
It’s about raising standards not giving jobs to people just because we liked them as players.
Tom is working in the Woman’s game with Lancashire and his knowledge of the game because of the level he has played can only be a huge asset to the girls.
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Just to be clear that my comments are not meant to be negative (not agressive- retract the extra ?) nor having a go at Tom personally…just raising a point of principle. Having supported female coaches in their development across sports it is clear they have far fewer opportunities allowed to them than men.
As Baz said if this was an open and transparent appointment process fine but in light of the fact there are many male and female coaches who are more qualified (both training and experience wise) it looks more that he has been picked because he knows the performance manager and Academy Head Coach.
If all the female coaches were offered the opportunity and turned it down fine and it was offered widely to others fine but if these opportunities haven’t been offered to females and they can’t even get them in womens cricket then where are they? As Baz points out, opportunities for international experience are thin on the ground, this was a rare opportunity to give female coaches that opportunity.
KSL should also be an opportunity but two female cloches have already been replaced this season.
Not being negative, quite the opposite, I believe female coaches have a lot to offer and should be given the opportunities in women’s cricket at all levels. They certainly haven’t been getting them in the men’s game.
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Check out Ali Mitchell’s article on the need for more opportunities for female coaches in the Cricket Paper this week
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