Ex-England, Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Yorkshire player Jack Birkenshaw has joined the England Women’s Team as Assistant Coach until July 2009.
Jack will work with Head Coach, Mark Lane, on a permanent basis having steered the England team together to a historic Ashes win in Australia in February to retain the Ashes won on home soil in 2005. The pair enjoyed further success in New Zealand in March sealing a 3-1 ODI Series victory.
Jack brings huge experience to the women’s game, having played for England in five Test Matches as well as representing Leicestershire, Worcestershire and his native Yorkshire.
Jack will help Mark Lane in all areas of coaching, but specifically will aid England’s spinners in their quest for Ashes and ICC World Twenty20 glory in 2009.
In addition to a hugely successful First Class career, Jack has enjoyed a rewarding career as an umpire including officiating in Test and ODI international matches.
Jack has extensive coaching experience including a stint as Head Coach of Leicestershire CCC, and pre-season work with the spinners at Durham CCC and Northants Cricket. He also works with the ECB pitch inspection team and is a member of the ECB Performance Team on the Spin Skills Sets at the National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough.
Jack Birkenshaw said “I enjoyed coaching the England women over the winter, and many of the players are making great progress. I am very proud to be part of their recent success and am sure we can get even better this summer. They are a great group to work with and are very talented cricketers”.
Speaking on his appointment, ECB Head of Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor said:
“To attract someone of Jack’s caliber is an absolute coup for the women’s game. We are all delighted to welcome Jack on board and confident that, with Mark, this is the coaching team to bring Charlotte Edwards and her squad even more success in the next 12 months.
“Whilst we have always used many specialist coaches with our elite players, we have never had an Assistant Coach working with the players on a weekly basis and to tour with them. Attracting Jack to the position shows how much progress the women’s game has made in terms of profile and professionalism.”
Jack joins the team as they prepare for the five-match NatWest ODI Series against South Africa, which starts on August 6 and includes a match at Lord’s on August 8; and the five match NatWest ODI Series against India which includes a televised Twenty20 international at Somerset CCC, the Home of Women’s Cricket.
