Kathryn Syver-Brant discusses her coaching ambitions alongside being a mother

Former England fast bowler Catherine Syver-Brant has opened up about the challenges of mother guilt as she embarks on her coaching career.

Syver-Brant is married to England captain Nate and the pair welcomed son Theo in 2025.

After retiring in 2023, Catherine gave birth to their first child and although she has since been involved in broadcasting with the BBC Test Match Special, she is now taking her first steps in a new venture as assistant coach to Trent Rocket.

After the Rockets beat the Birmingham Phoenix in their opener on Friday, Syver-Brant spoke candidly about her role as a mother fueling her personal ambitions.

“I would love to be the head coach of a franchise one day,” Syver-Brant, 41, told Sky Sports.

“But I think a mother, a working mother, has guilt. I feel guilty now, wondering how she is being looked after, what I should be doing.

“That’s what I still have to figure out. It’s more about letting go and managing that feeling and knowing that I’m a good mom to him.”

Female head coaches are hard to come by in the women’s game – especially the English ones.

Former captain Charlotte Edwards now leads England, having previously been with the Southern Braves, so Australia’s Lisa Keightley in MI London is the only one in this year’s Hundred.

Parenting responsibilities can be somewhat shared with his wife playing for the Rockets, and while Sciver-Brunt said he wants to further his career, he’s also aware of how much he can realistically take on.

“I’m trying to make myself better, happier and trying to find my place in the world after being a professional athlete,” added Sciver-Brunt.

“I have a lot of passion for it, it’s only been four days but I love it.

“I’d love to do a few franchises, because a county head coach role doesn’t quite fit – as soon as I do something, I want to do it to the best of my ability, almost too much!

“So I know I couldn’t just dive in and do it all year, because I have to be a mom, too. That’s the goal — to give her the best life I can and love her as much as I can, but I also want her to know who her mom was and enjoy the game, too.”