Matthew Mott is SACKED as England's white-ball coach, with Ashes hero named as his interim replacement - but Jos Buttler stays as captain despite two disappointing World Cup defences
- England have sacked Mott as their white-ball coach after two years at the helm
- They have named an Ashes hero as his replacement on an interim basis
- Jos Buttler remains as captain despite England's disappointing recent results
Matthew Mott has been sacked as England’s white-ball coach, confirming the game’s worst-kept secret and handing captain Jos Buttler the chance to reboot two failing limited-overs sides with an appointment more to his liking.
The reins have passed - for the time being - to Buttler’s old Somerset team-mate and former England opener Marcus Trescothick, who will step up from his role as assistant coach to take charge of the T20 and ODI series at home to Australia in September.
The aim is to have a full-time coach in place for the tour of the West Indies in late October, with Andrew Flintoff, Eoin Morgan and Vikram Solanki among the likely candidates.
The Australian Mott, who had settled into family life in Cardiff and leaves halfway through his four-year contract, paid the price for two underwhelming World Cup defences.
England won only three games out of 12 against Test opponents during the 50-over competition in India last year and the T20 edition in the Caribbean in June, and repeatedly failed to replicate the freeflowing style that made them one-day world champions in 2019 under Morgan.
Matthew Mott has been sacked as England's white-ball coach after two years in charge
England had two disappointing World Cup defences and Mott has paid the price, but Jos Buttler (right) remains as captain
Ashes hero Marcus Trescothick (pictured) has been named as Mott's interim replacement
And while Mott and Buttler combined in the early stages of their alliance to win the T20 tournament in Australia in late 2022, it became clear that their temperamental similarity was a hindrance not a help.
While Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes sing from the same hymnsheet, the strength and consistency of their message - absorbed with unflinching respect by the players - has helped transform the Test team’s fortunes.
But Mott, appointed before Buttler took over from Morgan in June 2022, was unable to form a creative spark with his captain, and could become bogged down in theory and data.
England won 39 games and lost 37 under him, with the form of the 50-over team particularly problematic. Though a crowded schedule meant he was rarely able to field his best side outside World Cups, half his 16 ODI victories came against the Netherlands, Bangladesh and Ireland. Against Australia, India and South Africa, England won just three out of 14. He is said to be deeply disappointed at his sacking.
It is fair to ask why Buttler has been spared the same fate, but with managing director Rob Key stressing the need for ‘a new direction to prepare for the challenges ahead’, the ECB are now on the lookout for Mott’s long-term successor.
For Trescothick, the Australia series is a chance to prove his credentials. He has the respect of the players, an impressive white-ball record - only Joe Root and Morgan have scored more than his 12 ODI hundreds for England - and is more relaxed these days about overseas travel, having quit international cricket in 2006 because of mental-health issues.
Flintoff, hero of the 2005 Ashes, has proved a dressing-room hit ever since Key, a close friend from their playing days, invited him into the white-ball fold last summer as he eased his way back into public life following a car crash while filming for the BBC’s Top Gear show in December 2022.
He is now in charge of Northern Superchargers in the Hundred, and has quickly established a reputation as a McCullum-style coach, placing emphasis on attitude rather than technique. The importance of coaching certificates is now old hat.
Andrew Flintoff is expected to be in the mix to be England's next full-time coach
Vikram Solanki (pictured) is another candidate for the role moving forward
His appointment, though, would invite accusations of ‘jobs for the boys’, and his long-standing dislike of the cricket media remains an obstacle.
Morgan has already made it clear the moment is not right for him, and is enjoying time with his family and his Sky commentary work - though Mott’s departure may make him think again.
Solanki was well regarded at Surrey before joining IPL franchise Gujarat Lions as director of cricket in early 2022, while even Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara could enter the reckoning - though he is understood to be enjoying his IPL consultancy work with Rajasthan Royals and commentary gigs with Sky.
The Rooney Rule, meanwhile, means that at least one ethnic-minority candidate has to be interviewed, and Key insisted: ‘It is essential that we go through the right process to ensure we get the best person for the job.’
After the Caribbean in November, cricket’s non-stop treadmill is sending England to India and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Whoever gets the job will need to gel quickly with Buttler.
