Matthew Mott signs two-year extension as head coach of Australia; Ben Sawyer appointed full-time pace bowling coach

Australia’s multiple World Cup and Ashes-winning head coach Matthew Mott has extended his contract for two more years, Cricket Australia announced on Friday (July 2). He will continue in his role till September 2023. Along with Mott, Ben Sawyer has been confirmed as the full-time pace bowling coach, after having previously held the role in an interim capacity.



Mott will have a responsibility to look after Australia’s multiple high profile campaigns, including a pink-ball test against India, two Ashes series, an ODI and T20 World Cup and the inaugural Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.



“On the field, his record speaks for itself, with the team claiming two T20 World Cup titles since his appointment in 2015. The team also regained the Ashes just months after his appointment in 2015 and has held into them ever since, as well as setting a new world record for most consecutive ODI wins,” Ben Oliver, Cricket Australia Executive General Manager, High Performance and National Teams said of Mott’s appointment.



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Mott was first appointed head coach of the Australian team ahead of the Ashes in 2015, taking over from former international Cathryn Fitzpatrick. Under his leadership, Australia has won two ICC T20 World Cups in 2018 and 2020, back-to-back ICC Women's Championship, and three Ashes series.



“I’m absolutely delighted to sign on for an extra two years and to have the support from Ben, Nick and the Board. As a team, there’s a lot of stuff in front of us to be excited about and I’m looking forward to being a part of it,” Mott said.



“There’s a lot to look forward to over the next few years, including our first Commonwealth Games appearance, so it’s a really exciting time to be involved,” Mott reflected on his upcoming challenges.



Mott will continue to get the assistance of Shelley Nitschke and Ben Sawyer, who has been confirmed as Australia’s full-time pace bowling coach. Sawyer spent last year as the assistant coach for New South Wales Breakers, and has also worked with Sydney Sixers since the inception of the Women’s Big Bash League in 2015. He will now have to step down from both positions.







“We had some incredibly strong candidates apply for the role and it was a tough decision, but Ben thoroughly deserves the opportunity having already had such a positive impact in his previous stint with the side,” Oliver commented on Sawyer’s appointment.



"He’s played a key role in developing what is a world-class bowling group and with over a decade of high-level coaching experience, Ben is a great addition who will complement Matthew, Shelley and the support staff,” he added.



Australia will start the home season with a multi-format series against India on September 19. They will also play their second-ever pink-ball test at WACA, Perth against India. Their Ashes defence will start on January 27, 2022, with a Test Match in Canberra, after which, in March 2022 Australia will join seven other nations for the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.