Edwards, Goswami to be part of Mumbai's coaching staff

Former England captain Charlotte Edwards has been unveiled as the head coach of the Mumbai franchise in the Women's Premier League (WPL), according to ESPNCricinfo. Her backroom staff will also consist of the former India pacer Jhulan Goswami who has been roped in as mentor and the bowling coach of the side.

This is not Edwards' first assignment as coach, having already taken charge of Southern Vipers and Southern Brave in The Hundred and also Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). Edwards, who retired in 2016, has close to 6,000 ODI runs to her name, finishing as the second highest run-scorer in the format behind India's Mithali Raj. 

No bowler has more ODI wickets than Jhulan, who picked up 255 wickets in her 20-year career that ended last year.

Edwards and Goswami are also expected to be part of the auction that is expected to take place in Mumbai on February 13. 90 players are expected to be sold on the auction day, which has been delayed due to the WPL franchises also having teams in the ILT20 and SA20.

"It is wonderful to see more and more women in sport, excelling not just as players, but also as coaches, administrators, and support staff," team owner Nita Ambani said in a media release. 

"This is an exciting time for women's sport in India."

Recently, Adani-owned Gujarat Giants announced announced Rachael Haynes as their head coach with Mithali as their mentor. Her backroom staff will include Nooshin Al Khadeer (bowling coach) Tushar Arothe (batting coach) and Gavan Twining (fielding coach).

According to reports, the first match of the inaugural edition of the WPL will be played between Mumbai and Gujarat on March 4. All matches in the tournament is expetced to be played at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai and the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.