The England Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Lisa Keightley will step down from her role as the England Women’s team head coach after a mutual decision not to extend her contract further.
Lisa will continue as the head coach until the end of summer, with the limited overs series coming up with India next month.
She took charge of the women’s team in January 2020, she played a crucial part in creating a squad that is competitive enough to win the major trophies, but she was one step closer from bring the Women’s World Cup to Home (England).
Lisa was successful in her role and made the impossible dream into a reality, she managed to create a team that reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup and the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup.
The England Cricket Board in a recent statement said that “Both parties agreed the timing was right to ensure the next Head Coach has time to work with the squad in the lead up to the next ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Scheduled for February 2023 in South Africa”.
The Board also stated that “Keightley’s last series will be September’s visit to India. The ECB will now begin the recruitment process for the new England Women Head Coach”.
The Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Clare Connor said that “I’d like to place on record our sincere thanks to Lisa for all her efforts across the last two and half years. Lisa was always a fierce opponent when she represented Australia, and she’s brought the same pride, passion, and will to win into everything she’s done with the England Women’s team”, “The team has enjoyed working with her immensely and I know they’ll join me in wishing her all the very best for her next challenge.”
Even the Director of England Women’s cricket team, Jonathan Finch, came out publicly and said a few words stating “We are incredibly grateful for the commitment and passion Lisa has shown over the last two-and-a-half years in the role. We have seen increased competition for places over the last 12 months and the squad Lisa leaves is an exciting blend of youth and experience”, he concluded by saying “Leading an international team is challenging at the best of times. It is more challenging during a pandemic, and Lisa has been able to continue the development of the team during what has been the toughest period we have faced off the field.”
