Shelley Nitschke named Australia's interim coach, replacing outbound Matthew Mott

Former Australian cricketer Shelley Nitschke is set to take over the coaching role of Australia's women's team. She will be replacing outbound Matthew Mott who resigned from his seven-year-old job for England's white-ball duties.

Nitschke's appointment as Australian women's interim coach was announced on Wednesday, May 18, i.e., shortly after Mott was named England men's limited-overs coach.

Nitschke's initial assignment includes Commonwealth Games

The Adelaide-born was already serving as an assistant coach of the Australian women's team since 2018. Her newfound interim role will give Cricket Australia (CA) enough time to hunt for a new full-time coach.

Shelley Nitschke's first coaching assignment includes a tri-series in Ireland, set to be played in July, this year. The tri-series will feature Pakistan as the third side. Immediately after the tri-nation contest, Nitschke will be helming her side at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games will feature a women's T20I tournament between eight sides. Australian women are placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan and Barbados.  

Nitschke's career and coaching record

The Belinda Clark Award winner represented the Australian women's side in six Tests, 80 ODIs and 36 T20I matches. She was part of the undefeated Australian squadron that lifted the 2005 Women's World Cup in South Africa.

While Nitschke was appointed as the assistant coach of the Australian women's team in 2018, she has previously spent time with Adelaide Strikers and South Australia. Moreover, she took over the coaching role of Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in 2019 and led them to their maiden title in the 2021-22 season.