New England women's coach bound for 2020 start

Female candidates are being considered for the position which remains unfilled since Mark Robinson stepped down following the Ashes series

England want to have the new head coach of the women's team installed in time for the start of 2020.

The void left by Mark Robinson's departure in August following a disastrous Ashes series defeat to Australia is yet to be filled, with the World T20 scheduled to start in February.

But managing director of women's cricket at the ECB Clare Connor has confirmed that female candidates are being considered during a process that should be completed by the New Year.

"We're right in the thick of the recruitment process for his replacement," she told Sky Sports. "We're shortlisting at the moment.

"We're holding some interviews next week, the week beginning the 14th. We've had some good interest from this country and overseas. 

"In the meantime our assistant Alastair Maiden will be taking the team through the rest of this year with a view to the new candidate starting at the start of 2020."

The first challenge for the new incumbent will be a T20 tri-series against India and Australia beginning in January, before their World T20 campaign gets underway against South Africa on February 23.

Connor's comments come on the day the ECB announced a major £20 million investment into women's and girls' cricket as well as a fresh strategy which will be implemented over the next five years.

Among the developments are 40 full-time professional, domestic player contracts - alongside the existing England central contracts - that underpin a five-point plan to overhaul the national game.

While the success of the senior England team will be a key barometer, Connor is focused on the off-the-field impact the plans could have.

"We've set some measures for success within the action plan," she added.

"They're around the number of women and girls playing the game, the number of sustainable club sections, the experiences of the girls that are deemed talented and whether they're achieving performance benchmarks through the system.

"More broadly the engagement of women and girls in the sport - buying tickets, watching on television and following the game."