Nilma Dole-Williams
Dole-Williams playing cricket for Peru in 2016 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sri Lanka |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm medium |
| Role | Batter |
| International information | |
| National side | |
| Domestic team information | |
| Years | Team |
| 2020–2022 | Brighton and Hove Cricket Club, Sussex |
Nilma Dole-Williams is a Sri Lankan-born British diplomatic spouse, former international cricketer for Peru and cricket coach in Cambodia.[1]
She has played as a right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler.
She represented Peru, playing for the Peru women's national cricket team, at the Women's South American Cricket Championship in 2015 (Chile) and 2016 (Brazil), where her team won a bronze medal.[2]
Family
As of 2025, Dole-Williams is married to British diplomat and ambassador to Cambodia Dominic Williams, and they have two children.[3]
She was the first British diplomatic spouse to not only play international cricket but also international sport for a country.
Cricket career
As a young girl, Dole-Williams was told that 'cricket is not a sport for a young lady' due to the social norms that women from the Sri Lanka Malay community should give up their working careers to get married and have children.[4]
However, Dole-Williams' husband encouraged her passion for cricket and after getting married and having her first child, at the age of 30, Dole-Williams trained as a cricketer.
She played for the Peru women's national cricket team in Twenty20 matches, representing Peru at the Women's South American Cricket Championship in 2015.[5]
She has also played in several matches including the T20 Women's League in Sussex for the Brighton and Hove Cricket Club from 2020 to 2022.
After retiring from playing, Dole-Williams started coaching cricket after she was awarded a bursary from The Sussex Cricket Foundation to do the England and Wales Cricket Board Level 1 cricket coaching qualification.
Following qualification as a Level 1 coach, she then became the first female coach of colour at the Brighton and Hove Cricket Club.
In 2022, Cambodia obtained Associate Membership of the International Cricket Council and Dole-Williams set up after-school cricket clubs. With funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, she did the England and Wales Cricket Board Level 2 cricket coaching qualification.
From 2024, Dole-Williams coaches cricket at The Canadian International School of Phnom Penh and The Australian International School of Phnom Penh and The Reigate Grammar School Phnom Penh.
She wants to pave the way for female cricketers of colour to play for England, and is committed and dedicated to making cricket the most inclusive sport.[6]
References
- ^ Dole-Williams, Nilma (5 February 2004). "Nilma Dole aims to inspire more women coaches following her remarkable cricket journey". England and Wales Cricket Board website. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Kimber, Jarrod. "Sri Lanka to Cambodia: the Nilma Dole-Williams story". YouTube. Red Inker Cricket Podcast. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Sritheran, Yashmitha (10 October 2025). "Journey of Nilma Dole-Williams". The Sun. Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Sands, Jess (1 November 2024). "071: Nilma Dole-Williams. Ambassador for Cambodia's wife, and cricketing superstar". YouTube. Milspo Business Network UK for military spouses. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Peru Womens (2015 Womens South American Championships)". cricclubs.com. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ "Inspirational cricket coach awarded unique diversity and inclusion sport scholarship". Manchester Metropolitan University. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
External links
- "Player Profile: Nilma Dole". cricclubs.com. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- Why I Changed My Mind After Visiting Cambodia - Nilma Dole-Williams, 2025 interview