Chris Guest Appointed as England Women's U19 Performance Lead

Chris Guest, head coach of The Blaze, has taken on the role of England Women's U19 Performance Lead.

Guest, 40, previously spent three years coaching Loughborough Lightning and later The Blaze after the team relocated to Nottinghamshire in 2022. Under his leadership, the team secured a victory in this season's Charlotte Edwards Cup.

In addition to his regional coaching duties, Guest also headed the England Women’s U19 World Cup programme in 2023 and coached in the U19 tri-series featuring Sri Lanka, England, and Australia earlier this year. He has also served as an assistant coach for the Northern Superchargers in the last three editions of The Hundred.

In his new position, Guest will oversee coaching responsibilities, including leading the U19 Women's T20 World Cup team in Malaysia next year. He will also focus on identifying talent from both academy and senior programmes, ensuring these players are integrated into England's U19 activities.

Guest's coaching journey includes previous roles within the ECB pathway at Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Reflecting on his appointment, he expressed immense pride in representing the Three Lions and accentuated his passion for helping young cricketers receive the right opportunities at the right time. Guest also shared his gratitude for his time at The Blaze, which played a crucial role in his growth as a coach.

Richard Bedbrook, head of England Women Performance Pathways, expressed excitement about Guest’s appointment, praising his extensive experience in the women’s game and his ability to collaborate with domestic teams to support the development of top-tier players. Bedbrook noted that Guest’s leadership has already positively impacted the England U19 environment, and he is eager to see his influence continue in future programmes.

Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket, highlighted that the ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup provides valuable opportunities for young players to compete internationally. He believes Guest’s experience will help strengthen relationships with counties and further enhance player development at the U19 level.

Finch added that Guest’s deep experience in women’s domestic cricket will be instrumental in shaping the future of young talent on their path to international cricket.