Former England fast bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt has spoken honestly about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her growing coaching career, admitting that she still feels “mum guilt” as she takes her first steps into a new role in cricket.
Sciver-Brunt, who is married to England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, became a mother in 2025 when the couple welcomed their son, Theo. Katherine retired from international cricket in 2023 after a successful career and has remained involved in the game through her work with BBC Test Match Special. She is now starting a new chapter as an assistant coach with Trent Rockets.
The 41-year-old spoke about managing her personal goals alongside her responsibilities as a mother after Trent Rockets began their campaign with a big win over Birmingham Phoenix on Friday, July 24, 2026. While she is excited about building a future in coaching, she admitted that leaving her son in someone else’s care can still make her wonder if she is doing the right thing.
“I would love to be the head coach of a franchise one day,” Sciver-Brunt, 41, told Sky Sports.
“But I think being a mum, a working mum, the guilt is there. I feel guilty now, thinking about how he’s being looked after, should I be doing that.
“I still have all that to figure out. It’s more about letting go and managing that feeling and knowing that a better me is a better mum to him.”
Sciver-Brunt’s comments show a challenge faced by many working mothers, including women trying to build careers in professional sport. The pressure to do well at work can often bring feelings of guilt about spending time away from children. For Sciver-Brunt, learning to handle those feelings is now an important part of finding the right balance between her family and her ambitions.
The former England bowler also knows that opportunities for women to become head coaches are still limited, especially for English coaches in the women’s game. Former England captain Charlotte Edwards is now in charge of the national team after previously coaching Southern Brave, while Australia’s Lisa Keightley is the only other female head coach in this year’s Hundred, leading MI London.
Sciver-Brunt is clear that she wants to move forward in coaching, but she also knows that taking on a full-time role could be difficult while raising her son. With Nat playing for Trent Rockets, the couple can at least share some parenting duties while working in the same competition.
“I’m trying to make myself better, happier, and find my place in the world having once been a professional athlete,” Sciver-Brunt added.
“I have a lot of passion for this, it’s only been four days but I’ve loved it.
She also explained that she would prefer to work with franchise teams rather than take on a county head coach position that would require her to work throughout the year. Her aim is to build a coaching career while still being there for Theo.
“I would love to do a couple of franchises, because a head coach role of a county just wouldn’t fit – as soon as I do something, I want to do it to the best of my ability, almost too much!
“So I know I couldn’t dive into that and do it all year round, because I’ve got to be a mum too. That’s the goal – to give him the best life I can and to love him as much as I can, but I also want him to know who his mums were, and to enjoy this game too.”
For Sciver-Brunt, coaching is more than a new job. It is another way to stay connected to the sport that has been a major part of her life. Her early days with Trent Rockets have already brought excitement, and she hopes to keep growing in the role while finding the right balance between cricket, family and her own goals.
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