Jon Lewis has been announced as the new Head Coach of Trent Rockets Women following Salliann Beams’ decision not to return for a third campaign this summer.

Lewis, formerly a top-order batter with Essex and Durham, was part of the coaching team that helped the Rockets to a third-place finish in the competition in 2022.

“The opportunity to step up as Head Coach is a huge honour, building on the foundations that have been laid over the past two years,” he said.

“The competition is hugely exciting because it is giving the women’s game a brilliant platform and players a bigger stage on which to showcase their skills.”

Lewis has previously coached with England Women across two spells - one as Assistant Coach, and most recently as a Batting Consultant.

He has also worked as a batting specialist with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s men’s sides and won the One-Day Cup as Head Coach of Durham in 2014.

His mission for the Rockets is to go two better in the 2023 tournament after Nat Sciver-Brunt’s remarkable 36-ball 72 in the Eliminator against Southern Brave took the Nottingham based outfit to within three runs of qualifying for last summer’s final.

“Trent Bridge has, for me, been a leading light in terms of crowds embracing the tournament, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there again next year,” the 52-year-old continued.

“Obviously, the aim for us as a team will be to win the competition, which I believe is possible with the core squad we’re working to retain before Deadline Day, and those we recruit in The Draft.”