England pick Mott as coach
SHELLEY Nitschke will take over as interim head coach of Australia’s all-conquering women’s team after Matthew Mott confirmed he was jumping ship to coach England’s male players.
Mott will go head-to-head with some of his former pupils, including David Warner, at this year’s World Cup after landing one of the most sought-after jobs in cricket as the coach of England’s white ball formats.
It leaves Australia’s world champion women’s team without a coach heading into the Commonwealth
Games in July, with Nitschke to take charge on an interim capacity while a full-scale search is conducted for a permanent replacement.
Nitschke, a former Australian all-rounder, could well find herself in the same position as Andrew McDonald, who was appointed interim head coach of Australia’s men’s team in Pakistan only to assume the role full-time at the end of the tour.
Mott is reeling from the death of his best childhood mate, Andrew Symonds, and has asked for time to digest his loss before speaking about his English appointment.
“Since accepting this role, I – like many people around the world – am trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of my great mate Andrew Symonds,” he said.
South Australian Nitschke will take the reins of the Australian women’s team for the upcoming tri-series in Northern Ireland followed by the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.