Fran Wilson, former england World Cup winner and somerset batter, has announced her retirement from professional cricket to take on the role of Head Coach for Gloucestershire Women.
The 33-year-old’s decision marks the end of a distinguished playing career and the beginning of a new chapter focused on developing the next generation of female cricketers. Wilson’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for women’s cricket, as the game continues to grow in popularity and professionalism. Her experience at both the international and county levels will be invaluable to Gloucestershire Women as they strive for success.
Wilson returns to her roots in the West Country after a prosperous second spell wiht Somerset, where she scored 574 runs in 28 matches following the team’s professionalization in 2025. She initially played for somerset between 2006 and 2014, amassing over 2,500 runs in List A and T20 cricket.
A key member of the england team that triumphed at the 2017 Cricket World Cup,Wilson represented her country 64 times across all three formats before retiring from international cricket in 2021. Reflecting on her career, Wilson told the Somerset website, “What a ride it’s been, one that’s taken me to all corners of the globe with England and then in more recent times back to the West Country.”
She continued, “To have a locker in the changing room at the CACG [Somerset’s County Ground] was beyond my wildest dreams as a young player. To know this opportunity is now normal for women is astonishing and to have been a part of the growth of the game is something I take immense pride in.” Wilson’s retirement signals not only the end of an era for somerset but also a promising new beginning for Gloucestershire Women’s cricket program.
