Lisa Keightley, former England women’s head coach, has been named the new head coach of the Northern Superchargers women’s team for The Hundred. Keightley, 53, takes over from Dani Hazell, who departs after four years at the helm, during which the team experienced significant growth.
Keightley’s coaching résumé includes a stint as England Women’s head coach from 2020 to 2022, where she guided the team to the semi-finals of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 Women’s World Cup. She also has franchise coaching experience with Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) and Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Her appointment marks a new chapter for the Superchargers, who narrowly missed out on the eliminator this year after finishing as runners-up in 2023.
Expressing her excitement about the role, Keightley said, “The opportunity to be Head Coach of Northern Superchargers is a huge honour, and I’m excited to build on the solid foundations laid over the past four years. The Hundred has been a game-changer. It has provided the women’s game with a brilliant platform and given players the stage they deserve to showcase their skills.”
She also emphasized the passionate fanbase at Headingley, “Headingley has been a shining example of how fans have embraced this exciting competition, and I’m really looking forward to being there next year. Our goal as a team is to win the competition, and with the core squad we’re working to retain before Deadline Day, alongside the players we’ll recruit through the Hundred Draft, I’m confident we have the potential to achieve that.”
Keightley’s playing career further highlights her credentials. She represented Australia in nine Tests and 82 ODIs and was the first woman to score a century at Lord’s.
Sanjay Patel, Yorkshire’s interim CEO, welcomed Keightley’s appointment, “We are delighted to welcome Lisa to the Northern Superchargers. With her extensive experience in both international and franchise women’s cricket, Lisa will play a key role in giving us the best chance to succeed and win the competition in 2025. We are excited to work with her as we look to promote a positive, entertaining, and winning brand of cricket across our teams.”
Kirsty Bashforth, Chair of Northern Superchargers, reflected on the team’s future, “We’re excited for the next chapter as we enter the fifth year of the competition. This milestone brings international experience and new opportunities for growth. We look forward to seeing each team evolve and enhance the competition.”
The Superchargers are aiming for glory in the 2025 season under Keightley’s guidance. Her proven track record in high-pressure tournaments and franchise cricket is expected to bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy to the team as she looks to build on the foundations laid by Hazell.
(Quotes sourced from BBC)
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