Dobson named women's coach

Charlotte Edwards is pleased with the new appointment

The England and Wales Cricket Board has announced the appointment of Mark Dobson as the new England women’s head coach, commencing the role on July 1 2007.

An ECB level three-qualified coach, Dobson, 39, is currently in charge of the Super 4s Emeralds squad, having succeeded former coach Duncan Martindale at the start of the 2007 season.

He played county cricket for Kent from 1989-1991 and finished his playing career with a season at Glamorgan in 1992. Since retiring from playing, Dobson has coached the Kent academy squads as well as other regional cricketers within the Kent area.

He is currently head of PE at St Edmunds School in Canterbury, but will give up teaching to take up the full-time position of head coach.

On his appointment, he said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been offered the role and very excited at the prospect of working with the top women’s players in the country.”

ECB executive director for women’s cricket, Gill McConway, said of the appointment: “This is a very exciting time for women’s cricket in England. Both John Harmer and Richard Bates moved the women’s game forward tremendously in their time as head coach of the national team.

“With Mark, we get a completely different style from a very enthusiastic individual who expects strong work ethics. He has an amazing ability to turn training sessions into high levels of entertainment through his creative and innovative coaching styles.”

England captain Charlotte Edwards added: “I’m delighted Mark has been appointed in the role of head coach. He is one of the most inspiring coaches within women’s cricket with loads of new and exciting ideas.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him in the forthcoming series against New Zealand, and looking ahead to the Ashes next year and the World Cup in 2009. It’s a fantastic appointment and we’re all genuinely excited about it.”