England Women have bolstered their backroom staff with the appointment of former Gloucestershire left-arm spinner Tom Smith, who takes on the role of spin-bowling coach for the upcoming season.
The 38-year-old joins head coach Charlotte Edwards' team during a blockbuster summer of cricket. The squad is gearing up for a momentous home Women's T20 World Cup, as well as highly anticipated white-ball series against New Zealand, India, and Ireland.
Smith brings nearly two decades of professional playing experience to the national setup. He will be tasked with mentoring an already formidable spin attack, working closely with elite left-armers like Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, and Charis Pavely. Additionally, he will help refine the skills of spin-bowling all-rounders Charlie Dean, Alice Capsey, and Sarah Glenn.
Head coach Charlotte Edwards praised the timely addition to her staff:
"I'm delighted Tom is joining us after a professional playing career spanning nearly 20 years, most notably at Gloucestershire, before moving into coaching at the same county and working with Birmingham Phoenix women. Tom is hugely respected in the game and was a vastly experienced white-ball bowler who will no doubt share some of his great knowledge."
For Smith, the chance to shape the national team's fortunes on the biggest stage was too good to pass up.
"The opportunity is an amazing one, and I'm incredibly excited to get started. It's shaping up to be a brilliant summer, with a home World Cup on the horizon."
England's high-stakes summer begins with challenging matchups against New Zealand and India, serving as the ultimate preparation before the T20 World Cup officially gets underway on June 12.