England Women to appoint new head coach

Paul Shaw, the head of England Women's Performance, will step down from his job under a coaching restructuring following this summer's Ashes defeat which will see a new head coach appointed early next year.

The ECB has said they ideally want a coach with first-class or international experience, something Shaw does not possess, ahead of a period that includes the World T20 in India next March and the 2017 World Cup which will be hosted in England.

Shaw has worked with England's women's set-up for seven years and was appointed to the head of performance role in 2013. He oversaw back-to-back Ashes series victories but England have not found success at a global event since winning both the World T20 and World Cup in 2009 although they have reached the last two World T20 finals - losing to Australia both times.

Last month, England relinquished the Ashes 10-6 in the multi-point format having lost the one-day series and one-off Test. They won the T20 series 2-1, but a batting collapse at Hove - a theme of the season - when they fell to 87 all out chasing 108 decided the contest.

"The important contribution that Paul has made to the development of England women's cricket over the last seven years is unquestionable," Clare Conner, the director of England women's cricket, said. "When Paul was appointed to the new role of Head of England Women's Performance in 2013, it was at a stage when professionalism of the England women's team was imminent. His strategic planning, long term vision and relationship management have been instrumental in guiding the programme through this transition.

"The women's game is now fully professional and is in a different place to when Paul was appointed two and a half years ago. The decision to move back to a more traditional coaching structure, led by one overarching head coach, ideally with first-class or international playing or coaching experience, is what we believe is now needed to take the players to the next level in their development as professional cricketers.

Shaw said: "I have very much enjoyed the past two and a half years working with the England women's team. My personal highlights have been the successful back-to-back Women's Ashes campaigns, both in England and Australia, as well as leading a young England team to the 2014 ICC Women's World T20 final in Bangladesh."

"The England women's performance programme has evolved into a world class set-up over the past few years. With this in mind, I believe it is now time to step aside and give someone else the opportunity to take the programme and the team onto the next level, as I look to take on my next challenge.

"I wish Charlotte and the team every success in what promises to be a very exciting couple of years ahead."

Interviews for the new head coach will begin next month with the ECB aiming to have the position filled before the tour of South Africa next February. Shaw will continue in his position until the end of the year.