Former England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has been named as the fielding coach for the men’s Test side for the upcoming series against New Zealand, stepping into the role on a short-term basis.
Taylor has been brought in to cover for Carl Hopkinson, who is currently working with Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The appointment was confirmed by England men’s director of cricket Rob Key following the announcement of the Test squad for the New Zealand series at Lord’s this summer.
Trailblazing Role for Taylor
The appointment marks another significant step in Taylor’s coaching journey. The former England international, who turns 37 next week, has already been working closely with Andrew Flintoff in the England Lions setup during the winter.
During her playing career, Taylor established herself as one of the leading wicketkeepers in the game, earning 226 caps across formats in a 13-year international career. She also played a key role in England’s World Cup-winning campaign in 2017.
Her move into coaching has included roles in men’s cricket with Sussex and Manchester Originals. This latest appointment is believed to be the first instance of a female coach working with a senior men’s international team.
Key Backs Taylor’s Appointment
Rob Key praised Taylor’s credentials and impact within the coaching environment.
“I just think she’s one of the best in the business at what she does,” Key said. “She’s been outstanding, and she’s worked a lot with Andrew Flintoff and Ed Barney [performance director]. They can’t speak highly enough of her. So from what we can see, she’s one of the best in the business.”
Focus on Fielding Improvement
Taylor’s inclusion comes after England’s fielding performance during the Ashes, where they suffered a 4-1 series defeat. Fielding errors proved costly, with 11 dropped catches across the series, and the absence of a specialist fielding coach was among the areas highlighted after the tour.
Hopkinson was subsequently reappointed as fielding coach, while Troy Cooley also returned as the team’s first full-time bowling coach since 2022. However, Hopkinson’s current commitments have opened the door for Taylor to take on the role for this series.
“We’ve been thoroughly, unbelievably impressed with [Taylor] and the way that she goes about her business,” Key said. “Carl Hopkinson, as is the nature of the cricket world that we have at the moment, he’s working with Mumbai Indians. He has a lot of stuff that he does for them, so we’ll still use him at some point, just not for this series.”
Taylor’s appointment adds further focus on improving England’s fielding standards as they prepare for the Test series against New Zealand.
