Former England women’s wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has joined the England Lions coaching staff for their tour of South Africa.
The 35-year-old, regarded as one of the finest keepers to have played the game, won 226 caps across all formats for England in a 13-year international career.
Taylor has worked as a coach in men’s cricket with Sussex and Manchester Originals, and is thought to be the first woman to join an international men’s set-up.
England performance director Ed Barney told BBC Sport: “She’s got a huge amount of experience, she has a really nice coaching style and she’s worked with some of the best male keepers in the international game.
“We’re always looking to pull the best staff together and that means a certain element of diversity. That doesn’t mean diversity of gender, but diversity of thought, coaching styles and points of difference.”
Led by former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, on his first tour as Lions head coach, the backroom team also includes ex-England spinner Graeme Swann, and former South Africa internationals Dale Steyn and Neil McKenzie.