Key: I had a feeling Morgan would quit
ROB KEY has admitted he appointed Matthew Mott as England’s white-ball coach because he wanted an experienced figurehead in case Eoin Morgan retired early.
Mott, who spent seven years in charge of the all-conquering Australian women’s side, was a surprise appointment in May — and had to adapt quickly to working with Jos Buttler when Morgan stepped down after the tour of the Netherlands. England last week lost their T20 series to India, before slumping to a 10-wicket defeat in the first ODI on Tuesday. Yesterday’s win at Lord’s was extremely welcome. Key, the team’s managing director, insisted: ‘One of the reasons I wanted someone with experience was in case Eoin Morgan gave it up. When I came in, he pretty much ran that entire set-up. But he never gave that guarantee of “I will definitely be there for the World Cup.”.
‘That became part of the decisionmaking process. This team really can run itself with Morgan: what’s the best way to do it when he’s not there? That’s why (I brought in) Matthew Mott.’
Key also backed injured fast bowler Jofra Archer to play Test cricket again.
Archer, who was ruled out for the season in May with a stress fracture of the back, has not played in a Test since February 2021 in India. He has played in 13 Tests overall.
‘I am hopeful he will be involved in everything,’ said Key. ‘Unless there’s someone who knows a lot more about backs and injuries, I am not going to change my view.’ But he admitted there were no guarantees Archer would be fit in time for the T20 World Cup, starting in Australia in October. ‘Jofra’s a little way off,’ he said. ‘But every time I watch England play, as well as we’re doing at times, we’re still a better side with Jofra Archer coming into it.’