England Women Name Tom Smith Spin-Bowling Coach for T20 World Cup
England Women’s Cricket Team have appointed former cricketer Tom Smith as their new spin-bowling coach ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be held later this year in England.
Smith, who is 38 years old, was a left-arm spinner and played for Gloucestershire. He retired from professional cricket last summer and then moved into coaching. Towards the end of his playing career, he also worked as a player-coach and later became an assistant coach at the same club.
During his playing days, Smith had a successful career. He helped his team win the Royal London Cup 2015 and the T20 Blast 2024. He is also among the top wicket-takers in the history of the T20 Blast, which shows his strong experience in white-ball cricket.
Smith will now join the coaching team led by head coach Charlotte Edwards. The support staff also includes coaches like Luke Williams, Alex Gidman, Chris Liddle, and Nick Wilton. Edwards said she is very happy to have Smith in the team and praised his experience and knowledge, especially in limited-overs cricket. She believes he will help improve the team’s spin bowlers.
Smith will start his new role during a busy season for England Women. The team is scheduled to play a home white-ball series against New Zealand Women’s Cricket Team and a T20 series against India Women’s Cricket Team. One of the key matches will be played on May 30 at the Seat Unique Stadium.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will also take place in England, with several matches scheduled in Bristol. Smith will be part of the coaching staff throughout the tournament.
Speaking about his new role, Smith said he is very excited about the opportunity to work with England Women. He called it an “amazing” chance and said he is looking forward to a great summer of cricket.
He also thanked Jon Lewis, Mark Alleyne, and everyone at Gloucestershire for supporting him during his career and helping him transition into coaching. He wished the club success in the future.
Overall, this appointment adds valuable experience to England Women’s coaching team as they prepare for an important year of international cricket.