Former England wicket-keeper batter Sarah Taylor has been appointed assistant coach of Team Abu Dhabi for the Abu Dhabi T10 tournament, which kicks off on November 19. Her new role is a watershed moment in men’s franchise cricket, as she becomes the first female coach in the field.
Taylor became the first woman specialised coach at a men’s county side with Sussex in the United Kingdom. She is widely considered as one of the best ever wicket-keepers. Taylor thinks that her involvement with the T10 league will inspire women all over the world, and she is building on that by forging a new route with Team Abu Dhabi.
“Coming into this franchise world, you get players and coaches coming in from all around the world where it may not necessarily be the norm,” said Taylor.
“But I’d love to think that some young girl or some woman watching can see me in the coaching team and realise that’s an opportunity and they can push for it, saying ‘If she can do it, why can’t I?'”
“I’ve never had issues in male environments and I enjoy the challenge. You always want to prove that you’re good enough, but that’s the same for any coach going into a new environment.”
Taylor, 32, made her international debut in 2006 and went on to play in 10 Tests, 126 One-Day Internationals, and 90 Twenty-20 Internationals until retiring in 2019. Over the course of a great playing career, she won two ICC Women’s World Cups and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and she represented England 226 times.
Taylor also coaches at Bede’s School in Sussex, and she came out of retirement in 2021 to play in the Hundred for Welsh Fire, as well as the Charlotte Edwards and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Cups for Northern Diamonds. She said she was open to other playing chances this winter, but the opportunity in Abu Dhabi was too wonderful to pass up.
“It came completely out of the blue and it was an amazing surprise. I’ve been counting down the days until I can get to Abu Dhabi and get going.
“I cannot wait. As soon as I found out who the staff was, that made it even more exciting and it was a lightbulb moment that I would be stupid to miss out on the opportunity. I’ve got so much to learn, they’ve probably got so much to tell me and I’m very much going to be a sponge. I’ll have to be.
I’m going to sit there with a notebook and write as much as I can. They know that as well, and will teach me so much as I’m at the start of my coaching career.”
Shane Anderson, Abu Dhabi’s general manager, added: “Sarah brings a wealth of international experience and knowledge to the group and her appointment supports our desire to create a team culture of growth and inclusion, which ultimately sets a strong platform for success.”
