Sarah Taylor joins Manchester Originals men as assistant coach for The Hundred

Released by Welsh Fire following the 2021 tournament, the ex-England wicketkeeper will work alongside Simon Katich at Emirates Old Trafford

Sarah Taylor has been appointed assistant coach of Manchester Originals men for the second edition of The Hundred.

The former England wicketkeeper broke new ground in 2021, becoming the first woman to be appointed as a coach in the English men's professional game when she joined Sussex.

She then joined the backroom team at Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 League - the second woman to occupy such a role in men's franchise cricket.

"I'd have been stupid to turn it down," Taylor, who will work alongside head coach Simon Katich, told BBC Sport.

"These roles are coming around now and any woman that gets offered an opportunity, they should take it with open arms.

"I'm extremely grateful to Manchester for giving me this opportunity.

"I fell into the men's game and I'm taking every opportunity I can to keep learning."

"We have to keep pushing. There are some brilliant women's coaches out there and I hope they get recognised, in the male or female game."

^{Taylor retired from international cricket in 2019 (Alex Davidson/Getty Images)}

Taylor returned to competitive cricket last summer with Sussex Women, Northern Diamonds and then Welsh Fire in The Hundred after nearly two years out of the game.

In 2019, she retired from international cricket at the age of 30 citing mental health concerns.

Though released by Fire, she has not ruled out another spell as a player but felt the opportunity at Emirates Old Trafford was too good to turn down.

"I absolutely loved playing last year, it's an exciting tournament and I loved how the boys and girls were treated as one unit," added Taylor, who scored 78 runs and claimed two dismissals in seven matches.

"There is no rush for me. I'm still young enough and fit enough to play, so if an opportunity comes around I will absolutely consider it.

"But right now coaching is the opportunity I was happy with, so I'm going down this route."