Australian Keightley named new England coach

Perth Scorchers and Western Australia coach Lisa Keightley has been unveiled as the new coach of England’s women’s team, with the former Australia player set to take the reins ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.

Keightley will be the first female to coach England’s women full-time, taking over the post vacated by Mark Robinson, who resigned after his side suffered a resounding defeat to Australia in the multi-format, points-based women’s Ashes in July.

The 48-year-old, who coached Australia’s women for 11 months between 2007 and 2008, will see out her contract with the Scorchers, who are currently in thick of their WBBL|05 campaign.

"I’m massively excited," Keightley said.

"It’s a huge opportunity. 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."

Keightley won't join England for their away series against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur in December, instead linking up with her new team in January with interim head coach Alastair Maiden to continue in charge until that time.

Her departure will require a mid-season change in mentor for Western Australia, with the next round of the domestic 50-over Women’s National Cricket League to be played in January.

"We are excited for Lisa and incredibly proud of the work she has done here, not only for the elite women’s program we deliver, but for cricket as a whole in Western Australia," WACA CEO Christina Matthews said. 

"Under her leadership the women’s program has become the number one ranked High Performance program in Australia and produced Australian players such as Heather Graham and had a big impact on the careers of players like Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani. 

"Lisa is passionate about cricket and the future growth of the women’s game, she has always been determined to drive the quality and professionalism of the sport." 

Keightley played nine Tests, 82 one-day internationals and one T20I in the green and gold, notably becoming the first woman to score a century at Lord’s when she struck 113no against England in July 1998.

She had been named coach of the women’s London Spirit team for next year's Hundred competition – one of three Australians to head teams in the inaugural season of the new tournament, alongside current Australia coach Matthew Mott and Sydney Sixers mentor Ben Sawyer - but will now be replaced.

Keightley, who retired from international cricket in 2005, will be no stranger to many of her new players having previously worked as head coach of England’s women’s academy between 2011 and 2015 before returning to Australia, where she was appointed Scorchers coach for the inaugural season of the WBBL.

England will arrive in Australia in January for a T20I tri-series, also featuring India, that will serve as a warm-up ahead of the start of the T20 World Cup on February 21.