Shane Warne appointed coach of new Lord's team in Hundred format

Former Australia Women’s coach Lisa Keightley will coach the equivalent women’s team

Australian leg-spinning legend Shane Warne will coach the Lord’s-based Hundred team when the competition starts next summer.

Warne, who took 708 Test wickets, has previously worked in a mentoring and ambassadorial role with the Rajasthan Royals.

He follows fellow Australians Andrew McDonald and Simon Katich in being appointed as head coaches for the ECB’s flagship new tournament, and former Australia coach Darren Lehmann is also expected to take a role.

“I’m very proud and very honoured to be asked to be the head coach of the Hundred team based at Lord’s,” Warne commented.

“The opportunity to coach in a brand new tournament and work with modern-day players is something that I will really enjoy and I am looking forward to the challenge. This tournament will unearth some heroes and hopefully some future World Cup stars for England and other countries.”

Lisa Keightley was confirmed as the equivalent coach for the women’s Lord’s team, who, if rumours are to be believed, will be known as the London Spirit.

The tournament has been a topic of controversy in English cricketing circles, with the need to create a new format and competition of particular debate.

Yet Warne suggests this was one of the factors that attracted him to the role.

“I love the concept of the Hundred and it has grabbed my attention in the same way the IPL did," he said.

“We built a team from scratch with a diverse range of players from different backgrounds and ages and I can’t wait to build the same mix of players to entertain the fans who come down to Lord’s for the Hundred.”

Lord’s was full on Thursday night as Middlesex defeated Surrey in a Vitality T20 Blast fixture, with the attendance of 27,773 believed to be a record for a domestic T20 game in England.

The Hundred’s player draft will occur on 20 October, and the new tournament will launch next summer.