Tim Macdonald to leave England Women after Commonwealth Games

The Australian was appointed to assist Lisa Keightley shortly after she was named as Mark Robinson's successor from the start of 2020

Tim Macdonald will leave his role as England Women's assistant coach following the Commonwealth Games.

The Australian was appointed to assist Lisa Keightley shortly after she was named as Mark Robinson's successor from the start of 2020. The pair had worked together previously at Perth Scorchers, and Macdonald is returning home to renew that relationship as a senior assistant coach on the bowling front with the men's teams of both Scorchers and Western Australia.

Macdonald played first-class cricket for Western Australia, and his final assignment alongside Keightley will come when women's cricket enters the Commonwealth Games for the first time.

"I've loved every minute of working with such an amazing group of players and staff," said Macdonald. "I've learned a great deal and made some lifelong friends, but I couldn't turn down this amazing opportunity to return home to Perth and be closer to my family."

^{Macdonald returns to Australia to work with the bowlers at Perth Scorchers and Western Australia's men's teams (Paul Kane/Getty Images)}

Macdonald's family has continued to live in Australia, making his job – through the restrictions of the pandemic – "a challenging yet rewarding time". Speaking to The Cricketer in 2021, he described the job as "my dream role".

He added: "In that time I believe I've seen our team improve and our pool of talent get deeper. Had the rain not intervened at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup we could easily have made two global finals in that time. The future is very bright for the England Women's team.

"The stars have aligned for me, and I'm so excited to return home to my new role with WA and the Perth Scorchers and I absolutely can't wait to get going following our quest for Commonwealth games gold. I'd like to thank everyone at the ECB for the opportunity. I've loved being a part of the England Women's team and I wish them every success for the future."