Amid a review of England’s 16-0 Women’s Ashes defeat in Australia, which followed their group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup in October, the ECB announced on Friday that Lewis had left his position.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as England Women’s head coach,” Lewis said in a statement. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to finish this incredibly challenging but enjoyable job of developing this young team, whilst winning and growing the women’s game in this country.
“I have worked tirelessly with this group of young players to develop their skills and understanding of modern-day white ball cricket, whilst still making good progress in 2024, winning 83% of all our games.
“I am proud that we have seen unprecedented bumper crowds in 2023 and 2024 and I am determined to continue to help drive women’s cricket forward in whatever comes next for me. I wish all the players the best and thank them for letting me be part of their journeys.”
“He came into the role after a very challenging period for cricketers during the pandemic, and one of his priorities was to create the right conditions for the team to flourish and develop. Under his leadership the team held off Australia to draw a thrilling 2023 Women’s Ashes – attracting record crowds with an entertaining brand of cricket – while the team’s consistent success in bilateral cricket included a remarkable eight consecutive ODI series wins for which he should take real credit.
“While the recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup and Women’s Ashes in Australia have been disappointing, there is no doubt about the talent we have available and we will look to appoint a successor shortly. We must be ready for an exciting summer of international cricket and to challenge for two World Cups over the next 15 months, including the T20 World Cup in this country next year.”
Lewis had been in charge since November 2022, during which time England Women won 52 of their 73 matches.
He has just finished his third season as coach of UP Warriorz, who finished bottom of the WPL table in the 2025 season.
While the drawn 2023 Ashes series, in which England won both white-ball legs, was seen as a mark of progress for the team, they took a backward step when a hapless fielding performance against West Indies cost them a place in the knockout phase of the T20 World Cup and the recent Ashes drubbing brought Lewis’s position under intense scrutiny, particularly once the review was announced, details of which are yet to be made public.
The ECB said it would provide an update on plans to appoint a new head coach “in due course” with visits by West Indies and India looming, followed by the 50-over World Cup in India and a home T20 World Cup next year.
Having initially said she was interested in taking the England Women’s job in 2022, Edwards decided against applying, choosing to focus on her burgeoning franchise coaching career with Southern Brave in the Women’s Hundred and WBBL side Sydney Sixers, as well as leading Southern Vipers in the domestic women’s competition, which included a T20 competition named in her honour.
Edwards has led Southern Vipers to five titles, including two Charlotte Edwards Cup victories – the second as part of a domestic double in 2023 – and Southern Brave to three Women’s Hundred finals, winning the 2023 edition. She also led Sydney Sixers to the WBBL final in her first season in charge in 2022-23. She has been appointed head coach of Hampshire Women under the new domestic structure in England and Wales beginning this season.
Before becoming England Women’s head coach, Lewis had been ECB’s elite pace bowling coach since 2021, working alongside the England Men’s Test and white-ball teams. He was previously head coach of the Young Lions, having joined the ECB from the coaching staff at Sussex. As a player, Lewis took more than 1,200 professional wickets in a 19-year professional career at Gloucestershire, Surrey and Sussex, and played 15 times for his country.
Valkerie Baynes is a general editor, women’s cricket, at ESPNcricinfo
