World Cup winning coaches Gary Kirsten and Matthew Mott have been appointed to lead the men’s and women’s teams respectively for the Cardiff-based team in The Hundred.
Kirsten, 51, coached India to the 2011 World Cup on home soil while Mott, who oversaw Australia’s recent women’s Ashes victory, was in charge when the side won the World Twenty20 last year.
Kirsten’s coaching resume includes guiding both India and his native South Africa to the top of the ICC men’s Test rankings and has coached in both the Indian Premier League and Big Bash League.
Gary Kirsten said: “To be involved in English and Welsh cricket from a coaching perspective is something that I have never done. It’s great to be given that opportunity and to come to Cardiff.
“This is a new format that I am sure will grow and grow. The real win is that it will grab the attention of families and expose the game of cricket to as many environments and communities as possible.”
Mott will be making a return to Cardiff after he spent three seasons as coach of Glamorgan, helping the Welsh county to the 2013 Yorkshire Bank Pro 40 final.
The 45-year-old has been in charge of Australia’s women’s team since 2015.
Mott said: “Cardiff is a special place for me and my family and that was a big part in my decision to return.
“I’ve got no doubt The Hundred will be a success for the women’s game. I’ve got a young son who is a Sydney Sixers fan and he doesn’t see gender – he just sees the team. The Hundred will provide that sort of platform in England and Wales and I can’t speak highly enough of what that can mean for the game.”
Sanjay Patel, managing director of The Hundred, said: “It’s great to welcome two world cup winning coaches to the competition. The Hundred continues to attract some of the top coaches in the world ahead of October’s men’s Player Draft.”
Glamorgan chief executive, Hugh Morris, said: “We are delighted to secure the services of both Gary and Matthew as our head coaches and believe they are the perfect pair to lead our new teams.
“The decision on their appointments was unanimous amongst the Team Board. They were the standout candidates for the roles given their strong track records at the highest levels of the game and vast experience working with international stars and in T20 competitions around the world.
“Both our head coaches will have a wide remit in the role and will use their knowledge to help with our team planning and the player draft in October. They will play a leading part in shaping the style of the team and creating a positive environment and culture.
“We are all looking forward to welcoming them both to Sophia Gardens and to get started on the next stage of this exciting new competition.”
The Cardiff Head Coach appointments follow the recent announcements that Simon Katich will coach the men’s Manchester-based team, Andrew Macdonald will coach the men’s team in Birmingham and Lisa Keightley and Shane Warne will coach the women’s and men’s sides respectively in London.
The Hundred is set to provide sports fans with an exciting new 100 ball format with world-class players from England and around the world competing in a men’s and women’s competitions.
The five-week tournament will be played at the height of summer and feature eight city-based teams from Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff, Southampton and two in London (Lord’s and the Oval).
The men’s Player Draft is set to provide an historic first for British sport when it is staged on Sunday, October 20. It will be shown live by Sky Sports, with extensive coverage across the BBC.
Fans can register their interest in tickets and information via www.thehundred.com
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle
