In a surprising turn of events, Matthew Mott has resigned as the England Men’s white-ball head coach with immediate effect. Mott, who was midway through a four-year contract, led England to victory in the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, the team’s recent performances, including a failure to defend their T20 World Cup title and a disappointing run in the 2023 50-over World Cup, have been underwhelming. England managed to win only three out of nine games in the latter tournament.
In response to these struggles, Marcus Trescothick has been appointed as the interim head coach for the remainder of the home summer. England’s upcoming fixtures include three T20Is and five ODIs against Australia in September. Mott and Rob Key, ECB managing director of England men’s cricket, reviewed the team’s performance over the past nine months, which ultimately led to Mott’s decision to step down.
Despite the recent challenges, Mott expressed pride in his tenure, particularly highlighting the 2022 T20 World Cup victory. He thanked the players, management, and ECB for their support, and extended gratitude to England fans for their unwavering backing. Appointed in May 2022, Mott’s tenure saw England achieve series victories against formidable teams such as Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
“I am immensely proud to have coached the England Men’s team; it has been an honour,” Mott said. “We have put everything into trying to achieve success over the past two years, and I am incredibly proud of the character and passion that the team has displayed during that period, including a magnificent T20 World Cup victory in 2022.
“I would like to thank the players, management, and everyone at the ECB for their commitment, support, and hard work during my time. I leave with many great friendships and incredible memories. Finally, I would like to thank the England fans, who have always backed us and given us fantastic support wherever we have travelled around the world.”
Rob Key announced that the search for a full-time replacement would begin immediately, emphasizing the need for a new direction to prepare for upcoming challenges, including the Champions Trophy. While Eoin Morgan has dismissed speculation about him replacing Mott, potential candidates for the role include Andrew Flintoff, Mike Hussey, and Kumar Sangakkara. However, no formal approaches have been made to any prospective successors as of now.
“On behalf of everyone connected to England cricket and me personally, I would like to thank Matthew for all he has done for the team since his appointment,” Key said. “He can be proud of his achievements as he leaves his post as one of only three coaches who have won a Men’s World Cup with England.
“After three World Cup cycles in a short space of time, I now feel the team needs a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead. This decision was not made lightly, but I believe it is the right time for the team’s future success. With our focus shifting towards the Champions Trophy early next year and the next cycle of white-ball competition, it is crucial that we ensure the team is focused and prepared.”
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