Cricket: Women call in Reeve for the big occasion

Dermot Reeve has been been called in by England's women cricketers and ordered to build up team spirit in advance of the series of five one- day matches against South Africa.

The former Warwickshire captain, now Somerset's coach, will put his expertise in motivation to work at a training session, which will include a seminar based on psychological preparation, at Wellington College in Berkshire on 11 August. The first match is at Bristol four days later.

"It will be about enjoying the big occasion and about how the players can get the best out of themselves," Reeve said. "I will talk about running between wickets, communication and a few disciplines."

Reeve was a one-day specialist and his input will be beneficial to England, who have been concentrating on the one-day game since their chief coach, Megan Lear, put together a year-long training schedule last winter. It involved the selection of two training groups based at Lord's and Headingley. The match squad will not be picked until after next Wednesday's area championships.

"Dermot is full of innovations and is an expert in gelling a team into a unit," Lear said.

Reeve is no stranger to women's cricket. He coached the Western Australian team and now oversees the Taunton side in which his fiancee is a wicketkeeper.