Former England captain Charlotte Edwards has been appointed as the head coach of the England Women’s team, the board confirmed on April 1. The 45-year-old takes over the role from Jon Lewis, who resigned following England’s lopsided Ashes series against Australia.
“I am so delighted to once again be part of the leadership of the England Women’s cricket team, and I cannot wait to take this team forward and drive us to success,” Edwards said on the appointment. “It means the world to me to have the three lions on my chest once again. Leading England as captain was my life for 10 years and I will forever be passionate about this team and our legacy. We have such a talented group of players, and I am excited about working with them and improving them both as individuals and as a team.
“We have the immediate challenge of two home summer series, and then it’s straight into the ICC Women’s World Cup in India this autumn, with a home ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next summer. There’s also the mouth-watering prospect of the first ever Olympics for women’s cricket in LA 2028. I’m relishing the prospect of winning trophies and taking this team forward.”
Edwards was in the reckoning for the post in 2022 after Lisa Keightley’s departure but she opted out. The board recognized her strong coaching credentials developed over the years and moved fast to secure her services.
She started coaching in late 2017 as an assistant with the Adelaide Strikers, a designation she held for five years. Edwards then supervised the Southern Vipers, guiding them to victory in the inaugural Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in 2020. Under her watch, the Southern Brave reached successive finals in The Hundred in 2021 and 2022.
Following the advent of the Women’s Premier League, Edwards was given charge of the Mumbai Indians and she has delivered the goods with two titles in three seasons, including the most recent 2025 edition. Edwards was recently put at the helm of the Hampshire Women’s team, a role she’ll now ought to relinquish.
“When we drew up the criteria for the job it became apparent very quickly that Charlotte was the outstanding candidate,” said Clare Connor, Managing Director of England Women’s cricket. “She has the experience, passion and expertise to lead this team to success. The results she has achieved as a Head Coach in multiple environments, since retiring as one of the greatest ever England players, is testament to her relentless drive and the standards she sets for those around her.
“She is a proven winner; she has won repeatedly as a player and now as a coach. She possesses a deep knowledge of the game, both in England and across the world, and she understands the importance of creating an environment that is both challenging and supportive. We are delighted to be able to appoint her as Head Coach of the England Women’s team and we’re hugely excited for what’s to come.”
Edwards assumes the position with the ECB from Hampshire. Her first game as England Women’s Head Coach will be on 21 May, against West Indies at Canterbury.
