Matthew Mott Appointed As England Men's New White-Ball Head Coach

England Team New Coach: Matthew Mott has also helped Australia win 26 consecutive ODIs, a record in either the men's or women's game.

New Delhi: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday announced that the board has appointed Matthew Mott as the England men's white-ball head coach. Mott, 48, has signed a four-year deal and will join the squad ahead of England's three-match ODI series against the Netherlands in Amsterdam next month. Mott has held the position of coach of the Australian women's team since 2015. He was instrumental in helping Australia win many major tournaments during his tenure of seven years. 

"I am delighted to accept the opportunity to take this white-ball role with England. Whilst I am Australian, I have deep connections, and several of my closest friends are in the UK, having spent considerable time in Scotland, Wales and England, both as a player and coach. 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," said Mott on his appointment as reported by news agency IANS.

Under his coaching, the Women's Australia team has won consecutive ICC T20 World Cups, this year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and four Ashes series to its name. Mott has also helped Australia win 26 consecutive ODIs, a record in either the men's or women's game.

"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. It was always going to take something special to leave the role that I have loved for the past seven years with the Australian Women's team," added Mott.  

Mott served as the head coach of New South Wales before taking up her position with Australia Women in 2015. Under his coaching, the team won the Champions League T20 tournament in 2009. 

"However, I genuinely believe that the time is right to play a role in helping the England Men's ODI and T20 group continue to evolve as one of the best teams in the world. I am fully aware that this team has been functioning well and part of my initial plan is to work with the playing group and support staff on how we can firstly maintain, then enhance, the success they have started to build over the past few years," stated Mott.

The selection panel consisting of ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, England's managing director of men's cricket Rob Key, strategic advisor Andrew Strauss and performance director Mo Bobat unanimously agreed that he was the best candidate for the role during the competitive interview process.

Explaining what sealed Mott's appointment as England's men's white-ball coach, Key said, "It is a real privilege to be able to announce Mathew Mott as the Head Coach of our men's white-ball team. He has had an incredible coaching journey with so many varied experiences that have brought him to this point where he was outstanding in the interview process and the perfect fit for our white-ball teams.

"We are lucky to be able to appoint a Head Coach that has not only been involved in international cricket for the last few years but he has also worked in franchise cricket around the world. More importantly, what he has done with the Australian Women's team is what will be asked of him to achieve for our men's white-ball sides."

Key communicated trust in Mott and skipper Eoin Morgan proceeding with England's glittering form in white-ball cricket with a Men's T20 World Cup in Australia later in the year followed by defending their ODI World Cup title in India in 2023.

"I'm confident that in Eoin Morgan and Matthew Mott, we have a formidable partnership that can push for more trophies in the coming years and that Matthew will be able to oversee any transition that team will go through in the future. Furthermore, Matthew will also help us invest in English coaches getting them as much experience as possible over the next few years."

"I'm confident that in Eoin Morgan and Matthew Mott, we have a formidable partnership that can push for more trophies in the coming years and that Matthew will be able to oversee any transition that team will go through in the future. Furthermore, Matthew will also help us invest in English coaches getting them as much experience as possible over the next few years."

Mott signed off by mourning the passing of former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds, who died tragically in a car accident on May 14. "Since the excitement of accepting this role, I, like many people around the world, have been trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of my great mate Andrew Symonds. The support of his beautiful family and close friends in the coming days will be vitally important, so I respectfully request some time to process his passing and the immense loss before making any further comment on the role at this stage."

(With IANS inputs)