Lisa Keightley appointed England Women's head coach

Keightley will leave her role as Western Australia and Perth Scorchers coach at the end of the year to fill her new position, and in doing so will become England's first full-time female head coach. She previously served as head coach of the England Women's Academy between 2011 and 2015.

"I’m massively excited. It’s a huge opportunity," Keightley said. "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 World Cup. 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."

Keightley, who featured in nine Tests and 82 ODIs for Australia, will begin her term in January next year after the conclusion of the ongoing WBBL 2019, with interim head coach Alastair Maiden continuing to lead the team until then. Her first major assignment will be the tri-series in Australia, also featuring India, before the women's T20WC 2020.

"Lisa was the stand-out candidate from a varied and highly talented group of applicants," Clare Connor, the managing director of England Women's cricket, said. "The interview panel were unanimously impressed by Lisa’s demonstration of her suitability for the role, her impressive knowledge of the game and her passion for coaching and developing players.

"She outlined clear plans as to how she believes she can take the team and this group of players forward. Lisa will become the first full-time female head coach of the England Women’s team. I am excited about the progress our sport continues to make and I‘m sure that Lisa’s appointment will rightly be seen as another huge step for women’s cricket.”