meet the staff
An experienced cricketer who has won 13 Test, 73 ODI & 3 T20 Caps for England, Laura joined the ECB to work on increasing participation within the women & girls' game.
Laura is an honorary life-member of the MCC & was recently appointed chair of the MCC women's cricket sub-committee.
Laura became Director of Women's Cricket at Warwickshire in 2018, before embarking upon her role within the new Women's Regional structure in 2020.
DIRECTOR OF WEST MIDLANDS WOMEN'S CRICKET
LAURA MACLEOD
Lloyd represented Leicestershire in ten first class matches as a right arm medium fast bowling all-rounder.
Since retiring from professional cricket, Lloyd served on the Leicestershire coaching staff until 2015.
In 2017, Lloyd was appointed by the ECB as a Women's Regional Talent Manager, before undertaking his new role as Head Coach of Central Sparks in 2020.
Lloyd Tennant
head coach
Darren has been involved with Warwickshire Women in a coaching capacity since 2013, becoming Head of Women's Cricket at Edgbaston in 2016.
Darren was then appointed Head Coach of the West Midlands Wildcats Regional Development Centre in 2017 & 2018.
Following this, Darren began his role with the ECB as a Women's Regional Talent Manager in 2019, before prior to becoming Central Sparks Senior Talent Manager in 2020.
darren franklin
academy head coach
Beth has managed team operations at multiple ICC events around the globe, including 3 Cricket World Cups.
She has also been the Team Manager of the ICC Women's Global Development Squad & acted as a liaison officer for international teams playing in England.
Beth became the Team Operations Manager for Central Sparks & Birmingham Phoenix in December 2020.
team operations manager
BETH GASKELL
Jill is a Harley Street Physiotherapist with extensive international sports team experience. Jill spent 9 years in women's professional club football followed by 3 years as Head Physio for England Women's Football.
Following this, Jill enjoyed a successful 9 year stint as Head Physio for England Women's Rugby. She has also worked with the LTA professional tennis players during the Wimbledon qualifiers, as well as with the England Women's deaf football team.
JILL CHAPMAN
physiotherapist
Anna is a UKSCA accredited strength and conditioning coach with over five years experience in S&C.
Her experience spans multiple sports including Cricket, Cycling, Rugby, Squash and Football. She holds degrees in Applied Sport Science and Sport and Exercise Nutrition.
Aside from coaching Anna has competed in Athletics at an international level.
ANNA NELSON
strength & conditioning coach
Dom represented Warwickshire in a career that spanned 14 years & saw him amass over 10,000 first class runs.
Since retiring from professional cricket, Dom has been the lead batting coach at Midlands based coaching company 'Complete Cricket' for over 10 years, whilst also coaching on the Warwickshire CCC Girls Pathway Programme.
In 2019, Dom became Head Coach of the Warwickshire Women/Birmingham Bears Women's First XI, leading them to their first ever title of National T20 Champions. In 2021 Dom was the Assistant Coach of Birmingham Phoenix.
dominic ostler
assistant coach
Gareth has been coaching within the women's game for eight years, after gaining a BSc in sports coaching and playing for Glamorgan 2XI and Wales Minor Counties.
He has coached Worcestershire Women since 2016, becoming the Head Coach in 2018, and has worked as both assistant and head coach at Loughborough RDC since 2015.
In 2021 he will become the assistant coach for Birmingham Phoenix women's team in the inaugaral Hundred competition.
GARETH DAVIES
assistant coach
Lauren has played women's county cricket for 13 years. This has included captaining Worcestershire and now playing for Staffordshire.
Throughout this, Lauren has gained a BSc in Sports Coaching Science and Development at the University of Worcester. Lauren has worked for Worcestershire Cricket Board and Loughborough Lightning and on several girls county pathway programmes.
Alongside her role with Sparks, Lauren also coaches on the Warwickshire CCC Girls Pathway Programme and at Shrewsbury School.
LAUREN ROWLES
assistant coach
Kim has extensive experience with international athletes and holds a Master's degree in Sports & Exercise Medicine. In 2012, Kim was a field of play sports doctor at the London Olympic & Paralympic Games, as well as a sports medicine doctor at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Following this, Kim became Team Doctor for the GB Senior Women’s Ice Hockey team & a national classifier for British Athletics, having previously worked with the GB Disability Target Shooting team, as well as the England Blind Football Development Squads.