Shane Warne named head coach of London-based team for The Hundred

Australian cricketer Shane Warne has been named as the men’s head coach of London-based team ahead of the inaugural season of The Hundred, Lord's Cricket Ground announced on its official Twitter account. On the other hand, Lisa Keightley has become the first female coach appointed for The Hundred. She has been appointed as the women’s head coach of the London-based team which will comprise of MCC, Middlesex, Essex, and Northamptonshire.

Shane Warne and Lisa Keightley have been appointed as the men’s and women’s head coaches ahead of the inaugural season of The Hundred.#LoveLords

— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) August 9, 2019

Legendary Australian leg-spinner Warne, 49, is one of the most iconic names in world cricket and was captain-coach when Rajasthan Royals famously won the first-ever Indian Premier League title and hopes history can repeat itself next summer.

H e said, “I’m very proud and very honored to be asked to be the head coach of The Hundred team based at Lord’s. The opportunity to coach in a brand-new tournament and work with modern-day players is something that I will really enjoy and I am looking forward to the challenge. This tournament will unearth some heroes and hopefully some future World Cup stars for England and other countries.”

Keightley ensured her place in cricketing folklore in 1998 when she became the first female player to score a century at Lord’s while playing for Australia, in a one-day international against England. 

The 47-year-old was the first female coach of the Australian Women’s team and was England Women’s Academy head coach before returning home to coach Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Talking about her appointment, Keightley said: “It is an honor to be appointed as the first female coach for The Hundred and to be a part of a tournament that is set to showcase the best women’s players from around the world. "

The Hundred is a new and exciting 100 ball format that is set to launch in July next year with the men’s and women’s tournaments to run concurrently over a five-week period.