Paul Shaw has been appointed to the new role of Head of England Women’s Performance.
Shaw was the ECB Women’s and Girls’ High Performance Manager and former England Women’s Academy Head Coach and his recruitment follows the announcement that Mark Lane, the England Women’s Head Coach, would be standing down after five years of unprecedented success.
The new role replaces that of the England Women’s Head Coach.
Clare Connor, ECB Head of England Women’s Cricket, said: “The rationale for the England Women’s Head Coach role evolving in to a ‘Head of England Women’s Performance’ is to reflect the scope and expansion of the England Women’s programme and the skill set now required to lead that programme, the coaching/support staff and the players.
“I am thrilled that Paul Shaw has accepted the role. Paul has already made an excellent contribution as England Women’s Academy Head Coach from 2008-2011 and as ECB Women’s & Girls’ High Performance Manager from 2010 until the present time. Paul has considerable strengths in a range of areas, most notably in leadership, creating high-performance cultures and talent development. I am wholly confident that Paul has the expertise and dynamism required to ensure that the England Women’s team regains its number-one world ranking as we embark on a new World Cup cycle.”
Hugh Morris, ECB Managing Director – England Cricket, added: “Paul was one of the first graduates of the ECB’s highly successful Level 4 coaching programme and now as Head of England Women’s Performance he will lead a world-class programme with increased support from specialist coaches as well as sports science and medicine. An increased investment in coaching provision also allows us to recruit an additional Assistant Coach to work alongside Carl Crowe. The new ECB Strategic Plan sets out some high standards for the England Women’s programme and I am sure that Paul is ready for that challenge.”
Shaw began his coaching career as Head Coach at Barnsley Cricket Club, the home club of England seamer Katherine Brunt, later moving onto an elite coach role with ICC Europe before joining ECB in 2007 as Coach Education Training Manager. The Yorkshireman has been instrumental in the England Women’s programme since.
Shaw, 40, will take up the new role, based at The National Cricket Performance Centre at Loughborough University, from June 3 and work with the existing England Women’s management team. Carl Crowe will remain in his role of Assistant Coach and an additional Assistant Coach is currently being recruited to work alongside Carl.
Shaw added: “I am delighted to be taking on this new role of Head of England Women’s Performance. I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the England Women’s cricket team towards achieving number-one status in the world, and working with some outstanding players, coaches and support staff as we head into a busy summer of cricket with games against Pakistan, followed by what promises to be an exciting Ashes Series.”