Sarah Taylor, the former England wicketkeeper, has been appointed as Team Abu Dhabi's assistant coach for the upcoming Abu Dhabi T10 competition, which gets underway on 19 November.

Taylor, who is also a specialist coach of the Sussex men's team, has long been regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers in the history of the game, male or female.

Her new role is a breakthrough moment in men's franchise cricket, and follows the appointment of Julia Price as Brisbane Heat's assistant coach in December 2019.

"Coming into this franchise world, you get players and coaches coming in from all around the world where it may not necessarily be the norm but I'd love to think that some young girl or some woman watching can see me in the coaching team and realise that's an opportunity and they can push for it, saying 'If she can do it, why can't I?'," Taylor said.

"I do hope that it becomes a little more normal and I may be the first [in a franchise role] but I won't be the last. Coaching is my passion and it's kind of going down the men's route, which is really exciting.

"I've never had issues in male environments and I enjoy the challenge. You always want to prove that you're good enough, but that's the same for any coach going into a new environment."

Taylor won two World Cups and the Women's World T20 in a stellar career that encompassed a total of 226 caps for England. She will work alongside head coach Paul Farbrace during the tournament, with the former South Africa allrounder Lance Klusener - currently Afghanistan's head coach at the men's T20 World Cup - also on the coaching staff.

Taylor also coaches at Bede's School in Sussex, and in 2021 she came out of retirement to play for Welsh Fire in the Hundred, as well as Northern Diamonds in the Charlotte Edwards and Rachael Heyhoe Flint Cups. She remained open to further playing opportunities this winter, but says that the Abu Dhabi opportunity was too good to turn down.

"It came completely out of the blue and it was an amazing surprise," she said. "I've been counting down the days until I can get to Abu Dhabi and get going.

"I cannot wait. As soon as I found out who the staff was, that made it even more exciting and it was a lightbulb moment that I would be stupid to miss out on the opportunity. I've got so much to learn, they've probably got so much to tell me and I'm very much going to be a sponge. I'll have to be.

"I'm going to sit there with a notebook and write as much as I can down. They know that as well, and will teach me so much as I'm at the start of my coaching career."

Shane Anderson, Abu Dhabi's general manager, added: "Sarah brings a wealth of international experience and knowledge to the group and her appointment supports our desire to create a team culture of growth and inclusion, which ultimately sets a strong platform for success."

Team Abu Dhabi squad Chris Benjamin, Danny Briggs, Ahmed Daniyal, Fidel Edwards, Muhammad Farazuddin, Chris Gayle, Colin Ingram, Marchant de Lange, Liam Livingstone, Obed Mccoy, Rohan Mustafa, Naveen-ul-Haq, Phil Salt, Paul Stirling.