Matthew Mott, who was the Australian women’s coach for seven years, pipped Paul Collingwood for the role of England men’s white-ball coach, the ECB confirmed in a statement released on May 18.
The 48-year-old has overseen the Australian women’s cricket team since 2015 and has achieved incredible heights and dominance, winning two T20 World Cups, four Ashes campaigns and an ODI World Cup. He has signed a four-year contract and will take charge of the team when England faces Netherlands next month.
The interview panel comprising managing director Rob Key, strategic adviser Andrew Strauss, the board’s outgoing CEO Tom Harrison and performance director Mo Bobat, were impressed with Mott’s credentials and unanimously agreed he’s the right candidate.
Speaking on his appointment, Mott said he’s excited to work alongside Eoin Morgan, Rob Key and Brendon McCullum, who has taken over as the Test head coach and announced his first squad on Wednesday.
“When this role became available, I was attracted by the chance to work with such an established and successful team under the astute leadership of Eoin Morgan and now Rob Key, whom I have always admired as an excellent cricket mind.
“The idea of the split roles and the chance to work alongside Brendon McCullum in his red-ball role is an opportunity that I am incredibly enthusiastic about and certainly provides the right balance for my family as we embark on this exciting journey,”
he said.
The newly appointed coach added that he understands this English white-ball team is a well-functioning unit so his initial role will be to just maintain the level and then build on it.
Mott’s experience of maintaining the standard in a strong, winning team will be crucial for England’s limited overs side, who remains a dominant force despite losing no. 1 ICC ranking in both formats and being knocked out in semifinals in the previous T20 World Cup.
England’s next major targets are the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia later this year in October/November and defending the ODI World Cup in India in 2023.
