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While he may have arrived in the position of Typhoons Head Coach through a circuitous route, New Zealander Liam Foulkes has plenty of experience to draw from in his new role.  

Foulkes has been coaching since the tender age of 14-years-old when he began coaching alongside his father, Glen, who also played and coached cricket. While helping out with underage teams, training with and helping his younger brothers to improve, Christchurch-born Liam came to love the coaching side of the sport.  

“I was handy at cricket, but I found that I could see things and explain how to do them more than actually do them myself,” he explained. “I would play in the back garden with my brothers and I was okay, but I enjoyed helping them to improve more than anything else – my brother Zak just debuted for the New Zealand Black Caps in a T20 series against Pakistan recently and my youngest brother, Robbie, played for the U19s in the U19 World Cup last year,” he added.  

After leaving school, Foulkes spent time playing club cricket in England in the off-season. He has also juggled studying part-time for a Bachelor in Sports Coaching and working for Canterbury Country Cricket Association as Coaching and Development Manager.  

In that role he gained experience in the women’s game coaching representative girls’ teams for Canterbury Country as well as the Senior Women and U17 girls from the local female-only club – Selwyn Wahini – which competes in the Christchurch competitions.  

“I really enjoyed the new experience of coaching females,” he said. “There’s a different sort of banter and camaraderie that’s fun, and the girls listen a lot more than boys at times. They’re so keen to learn and often came to me with questions so I found that really rewarding.” 

Foulkes has had to get into the swing of things quickly in Ireland. He recently arrived in the country after being successful in his application for the Cricket Ireland role as National Game Development Manager. Soon after touching down in the Emerald Isle, his coaching expertise became known and his services snapped up in the Evoke Super Series, Ireland’s premier women’s cricket competition.  

Foulkes will take over from Paul Davidge as Head Coach of the Typhoons. Expectations will be high as the Typhoons look to continue winning ways after they claimed the Evoke Super 50 Cup title in 2023. 

Ahead of his first match in charge, Foulkes said: “I’m looking forward to being involved in this level of cricket for the first time, it’s going to be a fantastic challenge. Hopefully I can have an impact with the players in my squad and I’m sure they will teach me as much as I will teach them.” 

The Typhoons begin the defence of their their Evoke Super 50 Cup title on Sunday, May 26^th against the Dragons in CIYMS CC.