Tom Smith joins England Women coaching staff ahead of 2026 summer

Tom Smith has joined the England Women’s coaching staff as an assistant coach with a focus on spin bowling.

The former left-arm spinner took nearly 400 wickets across all formats during his professional playing career for Sussex, Surrey, Middlesex and Gloucestershire. It was at Gloucestershire where his coaching career began in 2021 when he fulfilled a dual player/coach role before stepping into the assistant coach role in 2025.

As well as being an assistant coach at Gloucestershire, Smith also worked as an assistant coach with the Birmingham Phoenix women’s team during The Hundred last year.

Smith joins Head Coach Charlotte Edwards’ coaching group ahead of a bumper summer of international cricket that includes the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil, a first ever Women’s Test match at Lord’s and white ball series against New Zealand, India and Ireland.

Edwards said: “I’m delighted Tom is joining us as our spin bowling coach after a professional playing career spanning nearly 20 years as a left-arm spinner, most notably at Gloucestershire, before moving into coaching at the same county and working with Birmingham Phoenix women.

“Tom is hugely respected in the game and was a vastly experienced white-ball bowler who will no doubt, share some of his great knowledge. Our group of spin bowlers will benefit massively from his skills and experience.”

Smith added: “The opportunity to coach England Women is an amazing one, and I’m incredibly excited to get started. It’s shaping up to be a brilliant summer, with a home World Cup on the horizon and a T20 series against India.

“I’ll also be returning to Bristol for the India T20, which will be a really special experience and one I’m very much looking forward to.”