Lancashire appoint Paul Shaw as the permanent head coach

Paul Shaw as the permanent head coach on Monday (November 2).

Shaw was named head coach of Thunder - the side that represents Lancashire, Cheshire and Cumbria in England’s new elite domestic structure - for the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy played in August-September. He has now been given charge of the side permanently, while also taking over as head coach of Lancashire Women and Manchester Originals.

“I am thrilled that we have been able to secure Paul’s services on a permanent contract," said David Thorley, Regional Director of Women’s Cricket for the North West, announcing the appointment. “As well as his role with the regional Thunder side, Paul will lead the Lancashire Women and Manchester Originals in 2021 and both squads will feature players who have played under and bought into his brand of cricket already this summer.”

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“He made a huge impact on the players in a short space of time this summer and I am really excited that he will now continue that work over a prolonged period. This now offers continuity to the culture and ideas which Paul and his team started to implement into the group this summer.”

Shaw joined the ECB in 2007 as Coach Education and Training Manager before becoming England Women’s Academy head coach a year later. In 2013, Shaw was appointed as Head of England Women’s Performance, with overall responsibility for the performance of the senior women’s team, and oversaw Ashes wins both home and away.

48-year-old Shaw expressed his happiness on being appointed as the head coach and said the Thunder players made good strides during the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy in what was a tough campaign that saw them win only two of their six matches in the North Group.

“I am really pleased to have been offered the opportunity to continue the project which was started this summer,” Shaw said. “It was a really productive, albeit short, summer of cricket and as a side we had some excellent days and some tough days, but I believe that all of our players made huge strides forward.”

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Shaw, one of the first graduates of the ECB’s highly successful Level 4 coaching program, added that he is also looking forward to working with the best international players at the Manchester Originals while trying to develop players from the North West region in his capacity as the Lancashire head coach.

“I am also looking forward to coaching the Manchester Originals side in The Hundred which will involve working with some of the world’s best, while continuing the progression of our own North West crop of players,” he concluded.