I couldn’t turn down exciting England role – Matt
WARWICKSHIRE bowling coach Matt Mason says he is leaving the club “with genuine sadness and a heavy heart” after accepting a role with England Women.
Mason, who arrived at Edgbaston in April having enjoyed success in Australia, has signed a contract to become the new fast-bowling coach with the national side.
“There are only a handful of jobs I would have left Warwickshire for and this is one of them,” said the 48-yearold. “I had no intention of leaving the club, I’ve loved my time here, but when this opportunity came up I felt I had to take it.
“I’ve never coached at international level before, it’s an exciting prospect and I don’t know if such a chance would ever arise again in the future.
“It’s been a really tough decision, one I’ve thought long and hard about with my family, but in the end I would always have been left thinking ‘what if’ had I not accepted.”
Mason turned down overseas franchise coaching offers this winter as he had intended to focus on the Bears’ off-season preparations. But when the call came from England, he had to say yes.
He added: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here. There is a wonderful group of players, coaches and staff at Warwickshire and, as was demonstrated by the last-gasp survival of First Division cricket, there is clearly a wonderful spirit as well.
“I would like to thank everyone at the club for welcoming me so warmly and I really do believe Warwickshire are building a team that will be a force in coming seasons.”
Mason enjoyed a ten-year playing career with Worcestershire before taking up coaching with the
Pears, and later Leicestershire, before heading to Perth in 2019.
Bears’ firstteam coach Mark Robinson said he understood Mason’s reasons for leaving.
He added: “Matt’s an excellent bowling coach, we’ve seen that in the few months he’s been with us, and he settled into the squad seamlessly.
“I’m disappointed to see him go but I understand his reasons. He’s leaving for an international role with England Women, it’s hugely exciting for him and I wish him well.”
Meanwhile, promising teenage batter Hamza Shaikh has been
I had no intention of leaving the club, I’ve loved my time here, but when this opportunity came up I felt I had to take it.
Matt Mason
handed a two-year contract extension as the Bears underline their commitment to nurturing the region’s best young talent. Hamza signed his first professional contract earlier in the summer having progressed through the club’s age group structure from under-10s to the academy.
“It’s all happened so quickly,’’ he said. “Warwickshire is my home club so making my debut earlier this year was proper dream-come-true stuff. “I’m grateful the coaches have faith in me and I really want to do them
proud, get my head down and keep playing as well as possible.”
Hamza, who smashed five senior league centuries in a season when aged just 12, made four Royal London Cup appearances in the summer and was well set on 25 on his debut against Sussex at Edgbaston before being unluckily run out.
Director of cricket Paul Farbrace said: “Hamza has incredible potential. I’ve been impressed with the way his game is developing. He scored more than 1,000 runs last season for the Warwickshire pathway. I’m hopeful we can help him make a long, successful career in cricket with us.’’