WHEN Kieran Peters joined the Somerset coaching team in 2023, he was the first full time member of the pathway staff to be specifically appointed to work with the Women and Girls Pathway. Since then he has progressed a long way and is currently the batting coach for the Somerset CCC Women’s team.

When I caught up with Kieran he talked about what has happened during the time since he was first appointed.

“It has been a very enjoyable three and a bit years for me, coming in full time as women’s and girls’ lead of the pathway programme which was still in its infancy, so there was a lot of opportunity to move things forward.

“One of the main challenges was how we could get more young girls playing cricket across the county and part of my role working in the pathway was to enhance this, which we did.

“Now after two full years in the pathway I have been working as the women’s batting coach since we gained Tier 1 status in late 2024.

“Somerset has been really good about the way they have embraced the women’s game and we have moved forward a lot. There has been a massive shift within the club’s structure and overall it’s been managed really well.”

When he first started with the club did Kieran think that he would end up where he is now so quickly?

“My ambition has always been to coach to the highest level possible and one day that I would coach in the professional game, so to get the role I have now, and be part of things moving forward is really cool.

“Even though we didn’t get the results we wanted in all formats last season, from a personal perspective 2025 has been a good year with lots of learnings.

“From where we were when I first joined to where we are now with a fully professional women’s team, the club have come a very long way.”

What difference has it made having Erin Osborne as the Women’s Head Coach?

“Everyone knows that it is a fresh start, and Erin knows very little about the group, and we don’t know much about her and specifically how she coaches. It’s a fresh start and someone new, which I think is a really positive thing for our environment.

“I think Erin provides the opportunity for the players and the coaching staff to look forward every day and show what we can do as a group.

“Erin has come in with a clear objective around how she wants to play across all stages of all the formats and training has shifted in terms of aligning training to the way we play. It’s now for the group to embrace the change and make the most of the opportunity.”

Kieran added: “It is really good to have someone come on board and push this group forward. It’s a young group and it’s exciting about where the group could get to, and having a fresh face leading that we can hopefully push forward.”

Somerset Women start their 2026 campaign on Saturday, 11th April, when they host Yorkshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton in a 50 Over Metro Bank One Day Cup match.