Welsh Fire wicketkeeping batter and former England player Sarah Taylor is set to make her franchise-based cricket coaching debut with Abu Dhabhi’s T10 Franchise as their assistant coach. Taylor has some coaching experience with Bede’s School in Sussex and also has been Sussex’s men’ team specialist coach. However, her new role is a breakthrough as the T10 tournament carries a decent viewership. Taylor hopes to inspire young females to ponder upon a coaching role in the men’s game and franchise-based cricket by becoming visible.
Known for her quick hands behind the stumps and for her incredibling keeping skills, Taylor has earned a ton of praise for her work. Sarah has also been an attacking and reliable batter at both the international and domestic format. For England, she made 4056 runs in 119 ODI innings at an average of 38.26 and a strike rate of 82.32. She also made 2177 T20I runs in 87 innings at an average of 29.02 and a strike rate of 110.2. Taylor called an early retirement due to mental health issues but returned to play for Welsh Fire during The Hundred.
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 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 do hope that it becomes a little more normal and I may be the first but I won't be the last. Coaching is my passion and it's kind of going down the men's route, which is really exciting. 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.
Sarah Taylor, Wicketkeeper, Welsh Fire