London: Former Australian international Lisa Keightley became the first woman to be appointed full-time coach of the England women’s cricket team on Wednesday the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced.
The 48-year-old who played nine Tests and 85 One Day Internationals succeeds Mark Robinson and will take up her post in January. Keightley — who coached the England Women’s Academy between 2011 and 2015 — takes over a team that like their male counterparts are world champions in the 50 over format. “I’m massively excited. It’s a huge opportunity,” said Keightley, who went on to win the World Cup as a player in her swansong season in 2005. “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. Clare Connor, the ECB managing director of women’s cricket, said Keightley had impressed the selection panel with her vision. (AFP)
