‘If she can do it, why can’t I?’: Meet 32-year-old woman who will coach all-men Abu Dhabi team in T10 league

Srinagar: Smashing all the stereotypes, Sarah Taylor has set an example by becoming the first female coach in men’s professional franchise cricket.

She was named assistant coach of Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 league beginning November 19.

Known as one of the finest wicket-keepers, Taylor became the first woman specialist coach at a men’s county side with Sussex in the United Kingdom. She now brings all that experience and iron out a new path with Team Abu Dhabi.

 Taylor hopes that her involvement with the T10 league will inspire women all over the world.

“Coming into this franchise world, you get players and coaches coming in from all around the world where it may not necessarily be the norm,” Taylor said.

“But I’d love to think that some young girl or some woman watching can see me in the coaching team and realize that’s an opportunity and they can push for it, saying ‘If she can do it, why can’t I?'”

After making her debut in 2006, the 32-year-old Taylor played in 10 Tests, 126 ODIs, and 90 T20Is before announcing her international retirement in 2019.

She returned to professional cricket this summer to feature in The Hundred and the 2021 Women’s Twenty20 Cup in the U.K. She is hoping that other women follow his path and emulate her.

“I do hope that it becomes a little more normal and I may be the first but I won’t be the last. Coaching is my passion and it’s kind of going down the men’s route, which is really exciting,” she said.

“I’ve never had issues in male environments and I enjoy the challenge. You always want to prove that you’re good enough, but that’s the same for any coach going into a new environment.”

Taylor won two World Cups and the Women’s World T20 in a stellar career that encompassed a total of 226 caps for England. She will work alongside head coach Paul Farbrace during the tournament, with the former South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener – currently Afghanistan’s head coach at the men’s T20 World Cup – also on the coaching staff.

Taylor also coaches at Bede’s School in Sussex, and in 2021 she came out of retirement to play for Welsh Fire in the Hundred, as well as Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Cups. She remained open to further playing opportunities this winter but says that the Abu Dhabi opportunity was too good to turn down.