Sarah Taylor says she is happy to be regarded as a trailblazer, even if it means having to wear a helmet when practicing with Chris Gayle at nets in the Abu Dhabi T10.
The former England wicketkeeper will make history when she becomes the first female coach in the T10 tournament at Zayed Cricket Stadium next month.
Only once before has a woman coached in a leading men’s franchise tournament. Julia Price, another former wicketkeeper, was Darren Lehmann’s assistant with Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League two seasons ago.
Taylor already has experienced in the men’s game, as a coach at Sussex in English county cricket.
She says she was “shocked” to get the call to work as assistant to Paul Farbrace, a former T20 World Cup winning coach with Sri Lanka, with Team Abu Dhabi, but cannot wait to get started.
“If you ask my family they will tell you I always like to be first at everything,” Taylor said.
“I don’t like to do the same as everything else. If that’s called a trailblazer, then that’s pretty cool.
“It means a lot. I want to be known as a good coach, not just a good women’s coach.
“I am hoping this is a step forward, and that lots of coaches out there – no matter if they are a woman – will get jobs like this, and it will be seen as extremely normal.
“I would love to think there are a lot of women’s coaches having aspirations to work in the men’s game.”
Taylor’s sole experience of the 10-over format to date was watching it on TV last year, after she tuned in to watch some of her charges from the Sussex county side who were involved.
Her move to Team Abu Dhabi will see her link up with some stars of the world game, with Chris Gayle, Liam Livingstone and Paul Stirling part of the squad.
Taylor joked that she would consider wearing a helmet if part of her coaching brief was providing throw-downs for Gayle at nets.
“I think I’ll be working a lot with the wicketkeepers, so I’ll probably just sit back and enjoy watching Chris go about his business,” Taylor said.
Abu Dhabi T10 2021 team of the tournament
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1). Evin Lewis (Delhi Bulls) - 216 runs; 242.69 strike rate. Unfortunately for Delhi he only stayed for a good time and not a long time in the final. Hit his first ball for six, but did not stick around past the third over. He had been destructive at the top of the order. All photos Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket -
2). Mohammed Wasim (Northern Warriors, UAE) - 212 runs; 225.53 strike rate. Not yet a UAE international, but it won’t be long now. By the end of his breakout tournament, the commentators were saying he and Pooran were the key men for the Northern Warriors. That is illustrious company. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Cricket -
3). Nicholas Pooran (Northern Warriors, wicketkeeper) - 241 runs; 243.43 strike rate. The pocket powerhouse has a fair claim to being regarded as the leading player in the short history of T10 cricket to date. His six hitting caught the eye, but he excelled as a leader, too. -
4). Sohail Akhtar (Qalandars) - 248 runs; 187.7 strike rate. Continued his affinity with Abu Dhabi. It was there that he captained the Qalandars to their first silverware, in the AD T20 festival a few seasons back. The leading run-scorer. -
5). Rovman Powell (Northern Warriors) - 192 runs; 240 strike rate. Given his frenzied pitch invasion when they beat Team Abu Dhabi on the last ball of the eliminator, this tournament obviously meant a lot to him. Apt that he hit the winning runs in the final. -
6). Fabian Allen (Northern Warriors) - 11 wickets; 9.81 economy. It was no fun being a spinner in this tournament. Rohan Mustafa and Sultan Ahmed were thriftier, but Allen’s wickets were crucial in getting his side to the final. -
7). Obed McCoy (Team Abu Dhabi) - 10 wickets; 8.17 economy. Other than the UAE players, McCoy was the find of the tournament. The young West Indian left-armer has a slower ball that should be punching tickets to the big leagues. -
8. Ali Khan (Delhi Bulls) - Seven wickets; 8.93 economy. Deprived a shot at a hat-trick by a combination of split webbing on his bowling hand and a tight hamstring. He had figures of three for none off five balls at that point. Courtesy photo -
9). Shiraz Ahmed (Delhi Bulls, UAE) - Three wickets; 7.67 economy. Had a great commendation before the tournament even started when Andy Flower took him to his new franchise, after they won the title together last season. He repaid his coach’s faith admirably. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
10). Junaid Siddique (Northern Warriors, UAE) - 11 wickets; 11.50 economy. Only Jamie Overton (12) took more wickets than the UAE pacer. In the final, he took the crucial scalps of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sherfane Rutherford -
11). Zahoor Khan (Deccan Gladiators, UAE) - Six wickets; 8.27 economy. Surely a move to one of the world’s biggest T20 franchise leagues must be beckoning? He exerts extraordinary control in the T10 format every season.
“There will be a moment when we are playing and I sit and look around that dugout and see the names that are in there, because it is a serious team, and just embrace it and be excited by what is going to happen.
“I am just going to enjoy it. I’m sure Chris can be a very, very funny guy. I have met him before, so it will be nice to see him.”
The Abu Dhabi T10 is due to start on November 19, with the final set to be played on December 4.
