It is never easy picking up the reins from a successful manager but that is the task facing Richard Bates, the new coach of England Women's team. The incumbent coach John Harmer, famed for his technical nous, stepped down at the end of July after two years in the post.
Bates had a month working alongside the Australian but has now gone it alone.
"The England team itself is ever developing and evolving," Bates told BBC Sport.
"But it's very important that we have some continuity otherwise every time there is a change of coach the team goes back to square one.
"John did a lot of good work improving the technical side of the game and I am going to build on that.
"But I will have my own style and I do want to put my own stamp on the coaching role."
The 31-year-old certainly brings a wealth of experience to the job both on and off the cricket field.
Bates spent six years plying his trade as a bowler for Nottinghamshire before turning his hand to coaching with the England and Wales Cricket Board in 1999. "I want to home in on the game of cricket as a whole," explained Bates.
"Understanding the tactical side of the game particularly match situations is a big area.
"The England players have got the technical basics but they need to know how to win games of cricket from certain situations.
"I believe it is about getting a balance between giving the players ownership of their game combined with some direction and guidance from me."
The first test for Bates as the new England coach is a mini-series against South Africa.
 Harmer improved England's technical abilities but is now moving back to Australia |
England and South Africa will contest two Tests, the first of which is on 7 August at Shenley Cricket Ground, and three one-day internationals. The 14-player squad is a mixture of established and rising stars and includes Rosalie Birch and Beth Morgan, who are both hoping to make their England debuts.
"We're in a privileged position where we have got some choice about who makes our first 11," said Bates.
"Fortunately we have a good group of cricketers and they are going to have to fight for places.
"South Africa are an unknown quantity and we have to go about our job professionally, prepare and give it everything we've got.
"The long-term aim is to be the best we can be and it would be very nice if we could be world number one and win the World Cup in 2005.
"We have a group of girls with the ability, commitment and will to win.
"Our recent performances against New Zealand and Australia [the top two teams in the world] have been below par.
"We are definitely not being outplayed by those sides we just need to learn once we get in to winning situations, how to take it on and finish it off and hopefully we will close the gap.
"But I don't want to compromise our position at the World Cup by looking too far ahead.
"There is a lot of cricket to play before then and I know when the time comes we have the potential to be world beaters."
MMIX
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I know England have the potential to be world beaters 
