Leah Poulton Appointed Managing Director of England Women’s Cricket

The England and Wales Cricket Board has handed the keys to its women’s programme to an Australian. Leah Poulton, a former international batter with 90 caps for her country, has been appointed managing director of England women and will take up the role in November, replacing Clare Connor.

It is a bold, unmistakably ambitious move.

From Sydney’s Pathways to England’s Pinnacle

Poulton, 42, arrives with a CV built in the engine rooms of Australian cricket’s dominance. She has worked as assistant coach at Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League, then moved into a pivotal role at Cricket New South Wales as pathway manager and assistant coach for the NSW Breakers.

Her rise did not stop there. Poulton spent time as a high performance coach at Cricket Australia before taking charge as head of elite female cricket at Cricket NSW, a post she has held for the past six years. Those are the years in which Australia’s women hardened into one of the most formidable sporting outfits on the planet.

England now want a slice of that blueprint.

The ECB has made it clear that Poulton’s remit is expansive. She will be accountable for the performances of England women, England women A, England women U19s, and for the overall effectiveness and reputation of the women’s high-performance system. This is not a figurehead role; it is the central command post.

She will work closely with England head coach Charlotte Edwards and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, tasked with setting a “clear, unified vision” for a side expected to compete – and win – on the world stage, not just challenge.

An Ashes Subplot Already Brewing

The timing adds an extra edge. England will host Australia in a women’s Ashes next summer, with an Australian now helping to shape the home side’s future. The rivalry already crackles. Poulton’s appointment turns up the heat.

“I’m incredibly excited and honoured to be joining England and to have the opportunity to help shape our programmes and, most importantly, invest in our people,” she said, outlining a philosophy that stretches beyond the first XI.

She spoke of continuity, not revolution. “I’m looking forward to working with Charlotte, Nat and the wider team, building on the strong foundations already in place and taking the programme forward.”

The pathways matter deeply to her. That has been the thread through her coaching and management career.

“I know how vital strong pathways and a healthy domestic game are to sustained success, so I’m looking forward to connecting with people across the game and helping give the next generation of English players every opportunity to thrive. It’s a huge privilege to be part of England women and I can’t wait to get started.”

A New Era After Connor

Poulton steps into a role shaped and elevated by Clare Connor, who will leave the ECB post after the Women’s T20 World Cup. Connor has been central to the professionalisation and growth of the women’s game in England; Poulton inherits both the platform and the pressure that come with it.

An Australian strategist at the heart of England’s women’s cricket, an Ashes summer on the horizon, and a system under orders to deliver sustained excellence.

The next chapter of England women’s cricket will not lack intrigue.