Stephen Parry named new Essex Women coach

Stephen Parry named new Essex Women coach

Essex have named Stephen Parry, the former England spinner, as the new head coach of their women’s team.

Parry retired from playing in 2020 and has since worked in coaching with Lancashire Women and the Manchester Originals. He led the Originals in the 2023 and 2024 seasons of the women’s Hundred before being replaced by Michael Klinger.

At 39 years old, Parry now takes charge of Essex after a tough first season in the Tier 1 women’s structure. His appointment follows the departure of Andy Tennant, who left the role after less than a year.

Parry said he is excited about this new chapter in his cricket career. He believes his experience can help Essex become more competitive and aim for trophies. He described the squad as “exciting” with “a lot of room for growth,” and praised the family feel of the club. He added that his long-term goal is to build a strong squad across all formats, including the first team, academy, and pathway, to strengthen Essex Women’s cricket overall.

Parry spent his entire 13-year playing career with Lancashire, where he became the club’s leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. He represented England five times in T20 internationals, including at the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh, and also played two ODIs.

Essex’s director of cricket, Chris Silverwood, welcomed Parry’s appointment. He said Parry brings valuable experience from both his playing and coaching careers. Silverwood highlighted Parry’s ability to lead teams in high-pressure situations and to develop young talent, making him the right person to guide Essex Women. He added that the club is confident Parry will make a big impact both on and off the field.