Warwickshire County Cricket Club has appointed former England all-rounder Laura MacLeod as its Women and Girls’ Performance Manager.

MacLeod, who won 13 Test, 73 One-Day International and three International T20 caps for England, joins the Bears in October in a new role at Edgbaston to lead the senior women’s team and the pathway of female cricketers in the county.

Ashley Giles, Sport Director at Warwickshire CCC, said: “We’ve spent a good amount of time examining our structure of women and girls’ cricket and we see the creation of this new role and Laura’s appointment as an opportunity to take our senior team and our county age group teams to the next level.

“Laura has tremendous experience at the elite level of the women’s game, having enjoyed an 11-year career with England. Combined with her experience in growing participation, she was an outstanding candidate and we are looking forward to welcoming her to our cricket management team in October.”

I’m looking forward to working with all those involved in providing opportunities for our talented young women and girls cricketers not just in Warwickshire, but in the West Midlands, on their journey towards becoming professionals.

Laura MacLeod

After retiring from the international game in 2007, MacLeod joined the England and Wales Cricket Board, with her role focused on increasing participation within the women and girls’ game, as well as disability cricket and the game in diverse communities. She was part of the Lancashire Thunder squad in the Kia Super League (KSL) for its inaugural season.

Laura MacLeod said: “I’m very excited about starting in this new dedicated role in the women and girls’ game. Warwickshire is one of the leading counties in the country and, with the Club’s ambition and backing, the county can only go from strength to strength.

“The senior women’s team has made great progress in recent seasons and has competed well in the 50 over format as well as the T20 format. The Senior squad are now into a nine-week block of weekly county game and can really focus on finding successful combinations.

“Longer term, with the new competition coming from 2020, it’s a very exciting time to be working in the women’s game and I’m looking forward to working with all those involved in providing opportunities for our talented young women and girls cricketers not just in Warwickshire, but in the West Midlands, on their journey towards becoming professionals.”