Leah Poulton appointed England Women managing director

Leah Poulton, a former cricketer for Australia, has been appointed the Managing Director of England Women by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to oversee the international team's success and pathways. This year, she will begin her position in November.

Between 2009 and 2012, Poulton played for Australia in 48 ODIs, 40 T20Is, and two Tests before retiring in 2015. She went into coaching after her playing career, eventually becoming the assistant coach for both of the Sydney-based WBBL teams. Poulton spent three years as the Pathway Manager and Assistant Coach for New South Wales Breakers, before joining Cricket Australia as a High Performance coach. There she coached Australia A, Under-19s and Under-15s women's teams, and also oversaw the introduction of the Under-19 and A team programmes, and the first overseas tour of both the teams. She then became Head of Elite Female Cricket at Cricket NSW in April 2020 - a role she essayed for the last six years.

Poulton will be accountable for the England Women, England Women A, and England Women U19s performances as well as the women's high-performance system's overall effectiveness and reputation with the ECB. She will collaborate closely with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and England women's head coach Charlotte Edwards.

Richard Gould, ECB Chief Executive Officer, stated, "With the progress the team has made under Charlotte Edwards and having reached the final of this summer’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, England Women are well placed for a successful era."

"I'm thrilled to have Leah on board to help us expand on this and reach new heights. As a result of her playing career, she has a thorough understanding of international cricket and has established an impressive reputation in administration. As we compete for the ICC Women's Champions Trophy and Women's Ashes in 2027, I believe she and Lottie will be a formidable duo that will propel the team forward."

Poulton expressed her happiness at accepting her new position and praised Clare Connor, her predecessor who recently resigned from the ECB after 18 years of service. Poulton stated, "I'm incredibly excited and honored to be joining England, to have the opportunity to help shape our programs, and most importantly, to invest in our people." "I'm looking forward to working with Charlotte, Nat, and the entire team to build on the solid foundations that have been established and advance the program."

"I would also like to acknowledge Clare Connor's incredible contribution to cricket worldwide and to England. I'm grateful to be taking on a role that she has shaped in such a significant way because she has played such a significant role in moving the game forward.

"I know how vital strong pathways and a healthy domestic game are to sustained success, so I'm looking forward to connecting with people across the game and helping give the next generation of English players every opportunity to thrive. "Being a part of England Women is a huge honor, and I can't wait to get started," Poulton stated.