Sarah Taylor to coach England men's Test team against New Zealand in 2026

Sarah Taylor has been named as England’s specialist fielding coach for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.

Taylor's recent coaching role Sarah Taylor has been working closely with Andrew Flintoff as part of the England Lions setup this winter. Her season-long involvement with the Lions led to her temporary appointment as fielding coach for the New Zealand Test series. The position was created to cover for Carl Hopkinson, who is currently unavailable due to IPL commitments with Mumbai Indians. England’s men’s director of cricket, Rob Key, confirmed her role following the announcement of the squad for the Lord’s Test. ## Taylor's legacy as a player During her playing career, Sarah Taylor established herself as one of the finest wicketkeepers, regardless of gender, in the sport’s history. Over a 13-year international career, she earned 226 caps across all formats for England. Taylor played a crucial role in England’s World Cup triumph in 2017. Her transition into coaching has seen her work with men’s domestic teams such as Sussex and Manchester Originals. ## Historic appointment for England Taylor’s inclusion in the England Test squad marks a groundbreaking moment, as she becomes the first female coach to work with a senior men’s international team. Her appointment follows a period where England’s fielding standards were widely criticized. During the recent Ashes series, England dropped 11 catches, roughly one chance every five opportunities, contributing to their 4-1 defeat. ## Key praises Taylor's expertise Rob Key expressed strong admiration for Taylor’s abilities, stating, "I just think she's one of the best in the business at what she does." He highlighted her successful collaborations with Andrew Flintoff and Ed Barney, the performance director. Key added, "They can't speak highly enough of her. So from what we can see, she's one of the best in the business." Taylor’s appointment comes after England faced backlash for traveling to Australia without a dedicated fielding coach. ## Hopkinson's temporary absence Carl Hopkinson was reinstated as fielding coach after the Ashes, alongside Troy Cooley’s return as full-time bowling coach following Jon Lewis’s departure in 2022. However, Hopkinson’s prior commitments with Mumbai Indians have made his availability uncertain. Key confirmed that Hopkinson remains part of the setup but will not be involved in this series. He explained, "He has a lot of stuff that he does for them, so we'll still use him at some point, just not for this series."