RICH PYRAH has been named as the head coach of the inaugural Yorkshire Women’s Super League Twenty20 team.

The former all-rounder will combine duties within both the women’s and men’s set-up at Headingley this summer, and has described his appointment as “an honour”.

Pyrah has recently returned to Yorkshire having spent a month in Australia working with the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades Big Bash franchises.

“This is an exciting time to be involved in women’s cricket, especially around the advent of the Women’s Cricket Super League,” said the 33-year-old.

“The potential for the women’s game across the world is immense.

“Already in the short time that I have been working at Headingley as a coach, you can see the opportunity for the players and the club to deliver a successful team both on and off the field.”

Pyrah will work alongside the team’s general manager Jane Hildreth and Yorkshire Women’s coach Ruan Lowe, with his responsibilities including player recruitment.

“Working with the administrators, our focus is to build a strong side that will be competitive in the first year of competition,” he added.

“To play an influential role in developing the squad is an honour, and one that I relish.”

The competition, which includes teams from Hampshire, Lancashire, Loughborough, South West (Gloucestershire and Somerset) and Surrey, begins in July.

Pyrah is not the only former Yorkshire player to have been appointed as a coach in the Women’s Super League, with ex-left-arm spinner Gary Keedy working as the specialist spin bowling coach at Lancashire.