The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have appointed former Australia international Leah Poulton as the new Managing Director of England Women, with the experienced cricket administrator set to take charge of the women’s international team and its wider high-performance pathway from November.

Poulton’s appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter for England Women as the ECB look to build on the progress made under head coach Charlotte Edwards. In her new position, Poulton will have responsibility not only for the senior England side but also for England Women A and the Under-19 programme.

The appointment comes at an important stage for English women’s cricket, with the team looking to establish sustained success across international competitions and develop a strong pipeline of players capable of stepping up to the senior level.

Poulton brings playing and administrative experience

Poulton arrives at the ECB with extensive experience across playing, coaching and high-performance administration.

During her international career with Australia, she represented the country in 48 ODIs, 40 T20Is and two Test matches between 2009 and 2012. She eventually retired from professional cricket in 2015 before moving into coaching and administration.

Her transition away from playing cricket saw her work closely with the women’s domestic and pathway systems in Australia.

Poulton became an assistant coach with both Sydney-based Women’s Big Bash League teams before spending three years as Pathway Manager and Assistant Coach with the New South Wales Breakers.

She subsequently joined Cricket Australia as a High Performance coach, where she worked with several national women’s pathway teams.

Her responsibilities included coaching Australia A, Australia Under-19s and Under-15s women’s teams. She was also involved in developing the Under-19 and Australia A programmes and overseeing their first overseas tours.

That experience gave Poulton a detailed understanding of the player-development pathway and the challenges involved in moving talented cricketers towards international cricket.

Six years at Cricket NSW

Poulton’s most recent position was with Cricket NSW, where she became Head of Elite Female Cricket in April 2020.

She spent the following six years working on the development and performance of women’s cricket in New South Wales.

The role provided her with experience of managing an elite female cricket programme while remaining closely connected to the domestic pathway.

That combination of high-performance administration, coaching experience and international playing knowledge was a major factor behind her appointment by the ECB.

Poulton will now take those experiences into English cricket as she assumes responsibility for one of the world’s leading women’s cricket programmes.

Responsibility extends beyond England senior team

Poulton’s role will cover a much wider area than simply the senior England team.

As Managing Director, England Women, she will oversee England Women, England Women A and England Women Under-19s. She will also be responsible for the overall performance and reputation of the women’s high-performance system.

This means one of her central priorities will be ensuring that England have a consistent pathway from domestic cricket to international level.

A strong pathway is particularly important for England as the women’s game continues to expand globally. The emergence of new competitions and the increasing depth of international cricket mean teams must continually develop players capable of competing at the highest level.

Poulton’s previous work in Australia’s pathway system gives her direct experience in this area.

Working alongside Charlotte Edwards and Nat Sciver-Brunt

Poulton will work closely with England head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

The leadership combination will be responsible for maintaining the momentum generated by the England team while also preparing the squad for major future assignments.

ECB Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould welcomed Poulton’s appointment and pointed to the progress England Women have made under Edwards.

England’s recent run to the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup has provided the team with a strong platform, and the ECB believe Poulton can help take the programme to another level.

Gould also highlighted the importance of upcoming challenges, including the 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy and the Women’s Ashes.

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Poulton praises predecessor Clare Connor

Poulton also paid tribute to Clare Connor, who recently stepped down from her long-standing role with the ECB after 18 years.

Connor played a major part in the development of women’s cricket in England during her time with the organisation, helping oversee the sport through a period of substantial growth.

Poulton acknowledged the impact Connor had made both in England and internationally and recognised that she was taking over a role that had been shaped significantly by her predecessor.

The transition therefore comes with Poulton inheriting an established structure while also being tasked with identifying areas where England Women can continue to improve.

Focus on the next generation

One of Poulton’s key priorities is expected to be the continued strengthening of England’s player pathway.

Her previous work with Australia A and age-group teams means she understands the importance of identifying talent early and providing players with the right combination of coaching, competition and support.

The England Women’s A and Under-19 programmes will consequently form an important part of her new responsibilities.

Developing a healthy domestic structure will also be crucial. The growth of women’s domestic cricket has created more opportunities for players, but maintaining a clear pathway into international cricket remains essential for long-term success.

Poulton has already emphasised the importance of a strong domestic game and effective pathways in producing sustained international results.

A significant appointment for English cricket

The ECB’s decision to bring Poulton into the senior leadership structure reflects the increasing importance being placed on the women’s high-performance programme.

Her career gives her experience from multiple sides of the game. She understands international cricket as a former Australia player, coaching as a former high-performance coach and administration through her leadership roles with Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.

That combination could prove valuable as England attempt to turn recent progress into sustained success.

The immediate focus will be on supporting Edwards and Sciver-Brunt while ensuring the wider pathway is producing players ready for international cricket.

With Poulton beginning her role in November, the coming months will provide an early opportunity for her to assess England’s high-performance structure and identify where further investment or changes may be required.

For England Women, the appointment represents an important investment in both present performance and future development. Poulton’s experience across Australia’s elite women’s cricket system gives her a strong foundation as she begins one of the most significant administrative roles in English women’s cricket.