Matthew Mott has been named as the new head coach of England men's white-ball squads, after being preferred in the role to Paul Collingwood, who took charge during the recent T20I series in the Caribbean.
Mott, 48, joins the set-up after a seven-year stint as head coach of Australia Women, who recently claimed the ODI World Cup in New Zealand to cement their status as one of the most dominant sports teams in the world. On Mott's watch, they also won back-to-back T20 World Cups and four consecutive Ashes series, while their recent run of 26 consecutive ODI victories is a record in either the men's or women's game.
His credentials impressed a selection panel comprising the ECB's outgoing CEO Tom Harrison, the managing director Rob Key, strategic adviser Andrew Strauss and performance director Mo Bobat, who unanimously agreed that he was the stand-out candidate.
He is expected to be in place in the role in time for England's three-match ODI series in the Netherlands next month, having signed a four-year deal - the same timeframe as Brendon McCullum, the red-ball coach who today unveiled his squad for the first Test against New Zealand, starting at Lord's on June 2.
Mott's experience of maintaining the standards in a victorious team will be valued by an England white-ball team that remains one of the best in the world despite recently losing its No. 1 ICC ranking in both formats. England's next major tournament is the T20 World Cup in Australia this winter, having been eliminated in the semi-finals in the 2021 event in the UAE, while they are due to defend their 50-over crown in India in 2023.
"I am delighted to accept the opportunity to take this white-ball role with England," Mott said. "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.
"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. 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."
Before taking up his post with Australia Women in 2015, Mott worked as head coach of New South Wales - leading them to victory in the Champions League T20 tournament in 2009 - and then coached Glamorgan, reaching the final of the Yorkshire Bank 40 in 2013, before working as a consultant for Ireland during the 2015 Men's ODI World Cup. He also has an existing relationship with McCullum, having worked as a consultant with Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural seasons of the IPL in 2008 and 2009.
Commenting on the appointment, Key praised Mott's "incredible coaching journey", adding that 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," he said. "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.
"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."
At his unveiling, Mott also took the opportunity to address the tragic death of Andrew Symonds, his close friend and team-mate from his playing days in club cricket and then at Queensland, who died in a car accident aged 46 on Sunday.
"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," he said.
"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."