Nitschke named Australia's interim head coach ahead of the Commonwealth Games

Cricket Australia (CA) has appointed Shelly Nitschke as their interim head coach ahead of the tri-series in Ireland and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The former assistant coach Nitschke has replaced Matthew Mott, who has been appointed as the head coach of the England men’s side.

Nitschke was appointed assistant coach of the Australian Team in 2018. She was associated with South Australian Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers before the appointment.  In 2019, she took over from Lisa Keightley as the head coach of the Perth Scorchers and led the WBBL side to their maiden title in 2022. 

During Nitschke’s tenure as the assistant coach of Australia, she helped Australia win two T20 World Cups, three victorious Ashes campaigns, and ODI World Cup in 2022. In her playing days, Nitschke was part of Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning squad in 2005 as well as the team that lifted the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean in 2010. 

Mott, who was Australia’s head coach for seven years expressed gratitude towards CA. “I’d like to thank everyone involved across Australian Cricket,” he said. “I feel honoured to have been a part of such an amazing group of people over the last seven years. I leave with a heavy heart but with so many wonderful memories,” he said. 

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Australia won two T20 World Cups, the ODI World Cup, and defended the Ashes on four occasions during Mott’s tenure. CA’s CEO Nick Hockley congratulated Mott on his tenure with the Australian team.

"Matthew has played an instrumental role in the success of our incredible women’s team, driving a team-first mentality, and creating an environment that’s allowed the players to blossom into some of the world’s leading cricketers,” Hockley said.

Australia will face the hosts and Pakistan in the tri-series in Ireland before the historic first appearance  at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.