The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is on the lookout for a new white-ball head coach after Matthew Mott stepped down from his role on Tuesday (July 30).
Mott’s tenure saw England struggle in their title defenses in both the white-ball formats trophy. In the interim, former England batter Marcus Trescothick, who served as Mott’s assistant, has been appointed as the head coach for the upcoming white-ball home series against Australia in September.
Matthew Mott’s tenure as England’s coach
Mott’s stint began promisingly in 2022 with bilateral series victories and a triumphant T20 World Cup 2022 campaign. However, subsequent performances have been underwhelming. The Jos Buttler-led England team failed to defend their titles, suffering a poor campaign in the ODI World Cup 2023 in India and only reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2024.
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Kumar Sangakkara among contenders
Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara has reportedly emerged as one of a potential candidate for the prestigious role. Currently serving as the Director of Cricket and head coach of Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sangakkara has built a strong working relationship with England’s white-ball captain Buttler during their time in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite the speculation, Sangakkara has not confirmed any official approach from the ECB.
Sangakkara’s response
In a recent statement to the PA News Agency, Sangakkara acknowledged the rumors linking him to the role but expressed contentment with his current position.
“Well, I know [my name] has been mentioned for some reason, but there has not been any approach as such. I think the England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there. I am very happy at the moment. The Rajasthan Royals experience has been very fulfilling and it has been a job I have really enjoyed over the last four years,” Sangakkara said.
