Picture by Adrian Murrell/Getty Images. Kevin Sharp at the crease for Yorkshire in a John Player League match against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham College in 1983.
Kevin Sharp says it’s “been fabulous” to be back with Yorkshire having taken on the full-time role of an assistant to women’s head coach Rich Pyrah.
Sharp, the former White Rose men’s player and batting coach – he famously played a huge part in Joe Root’s development – has come out of retirement following a spell at Worcestershire as both their men’s head coach and an Academy coach.
Most recently, Leeds-born Sharp has been the president of the Yorkshire CCC Players’ Association since May 2024.
Sharp, who will work alongside fellow assistant Chris Brice, yesterday travelled to Potchefstroom with the women’s squad on their pre-season tour, which includes a pair of 50-over Roses friendlies against Lancashire.
The 66-year-old first joined the squad on a consultancy basis during the latter stages of last year’s triumphant Metro Bank One-Day Cup 2 campaign, with opener Erin Thomas – she scored a career best 62 not out in the final win over Glamorgan at New Road – crediting him for helping her find late-summer form.
“This is the third time I’ve worn the white rose, you know,” he said.
“I first walked through the gates here as a 16-year-old and fell in love with the place.
“And wherever life’s taken me as a player and coach, it’s brought me back here. I’m probably more grateful for it now than I’ve ever been.
“Sometimes, when you’re younger, you take it for granted a bit. But, now, with all the memories, having batted here 40-odd years ago, and having done a bit of reminiscing with yourself, I just think, ‘Wow, this is so good’.
“I’d retired from full-time coaching, but we’ve moved back up from Worcestershire, and I’ve known Rich for many years. He asked me would I be interested in getting involved, and I was.
“I think my wife’s (Jan) quite happy that I’m out doing the coaching and being as happy as I am. It’ll continue for as long as it continues. I just love it, I absolutely love it.”
While Sharp’s early work was helping the team get over the line in last year’s One-Day Cup, he most recent work has been helping those home-based players prepare for the new season and the elevation up to Tier 1.
He continued: “We’d decided before the final that I’d be coming back full-time. To go there, and with it being Worcester of all places, it was rather nice.
“There’s been quite a few of the girls away from home, in Australia playing club cricket, and with their countries like Sterre Kalis with the Netherlands and Rachel Slater and Hannah Rainey with Scotland.
“At times, there’s only been six or seven around at Headingley, but they’ve worked so hard and are ready to go.
“We’ve had two days of full grass practice out here, and now we’re ready to get going in Potch.”
Sharp, his coaching colleagues and players go into this summer – it starts on Saturday April 11 with a One-Day Cup away clash against Somerset at Taunton – well aware that they will be the underdogs.
However, confidence is high that they can strike some telling blows against the big guns such as Lancashire, Surrey, The Blaze and Hampshire.
“The standard’s going to be higher, we know that,” added Sharp.
“But the environment and the culture we have here now is a very positive one and builds that confidence and motivation.
“Throughout the whole club, I’ve been blown away by that environment and culture. And that’s been driven by everybody, from coaches to players to the staff behind the scenes. Everyone seems to be working together as one unit.
“I just think there will be some very good times ahead for us all, and not just the women.”