Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Sarah Taylor has added another groundbreaking milestone to her remarkable cricket journey, becoming the first woman to join the England men’s coaching setup. ECB’s Director of Cricket Rob Key made the announcement on Wednesday, May 13.
Taylor’s rise in coaching has been rapid and influential since her retirement in 2019. In 2021, she became the first female specialist coach in men’s county cricket when Sussex County Cricket Club appointed her as wicketkeeping coach. Later that year, she created history again by becoming the first woman coach in men’s franchise cricket after joining Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 League.
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Taylor has since worked across several setups, including Manchester Originals and the England Lions program, where she has earned praise for her wicketkeeping expertise and ability to mentor young players. Taylor has also become an important figure within the Women’s Premier League. She joined Gujarat Giants as fielding coach ahead of the 2026 season, strengthening a coaching staff led by Michael Klinger.
On Taylor joining England men’s cricket, Key said, “I just think she’s one of the best in the business at what she does. She’s been outstanding, and she’s worked a lot with Andrew Flintoff and Ed Barney (performance director). They can’t speak highly enough of her. So from what we can see, she’s one of the best in the business.”
SARAH TAYLOR’S INCREDIBLE CAREER
Before entering coaching, Taylor built one of the most celebrated playing careers in women’s cricket history. Making her England debut in 2006 as a teenager, she transformed wicketkeeping standards with her lightning-fast glovework and attacking batting. Across formats, Taylor represented England in 10 Tests, 126 ODIs and 90 T20Is, scoring more than 6500 international runs with seven centuries and 38 half-centuries.
Taylor was central to England’s most successful era in women’s cricket. She helped England win the 2009 ODI World Cup, the 2009 T20 World Cup and the 2017 ODI World Cup at Lord’s.
In the unforgettable 2017 final against India, Taylor scored a vital 45 that helped England secure a dramatic nine-run victory. Individually, she was named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2014 and was widely regarded as the best wicketkeeper in the women’s game during her peak years.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
