September 6, 2024

Matthew Mott Joins Sydney Sixers as Assistant Coach After Leaving England Role

Matthew Mott has joined the Sydney Sixers as an assistant coach on a three-year contract. He replaces Cameron White, who moved to the Melbourne Renegades as their head coach. Mott, previously the head coach of the England Men’s white-ball team, also led the Australian Women’s team for eight years before his time with England. At the Sixers, he will work alongside Greg Shipperd.

“I’m delighted to join back up with the Sydney Sixers,” Mott said. “Having started my coaching journey in Sydney many years ago, it’s a place that evokes both great memories and a comforting sense of familiarity, which I’m looking forward to.”

“The idea of being an assistant to Greg Shipperd, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for, really appealed to me.”

Matthew Mott Joins Sydney Sixers as Assistant Coach, Bringing Valuable Experience and New Talent Acquisitions

Matthew Mott has joined the Sydney Sixers as an assistant coach on a three-year contract. He replaces Cameron White, who moved to the Melbourne Renegades as their head coach. Mott, previously the head coach of the England Men’s white-ball team, also led the Australian Women’s team for eight years before his time with England. At the Sixers, he will work alongside Greg Shipperd.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to have Motty committed for the next three years with the club,” Haynes, Sixers’ general manager, said.”When the opportunity arises to bring a coach of Motty’s calibre into your ranks, it’s a no-brainer. We know what a fantastic resource he will be for our playing group.”

“It goes without saying that his coaching resume speaks for itself. He has an incredible track-record of success around the world, and he’s proven he knows what it takes to build, and sustain, a winning culture.”

“Our club is in safe hands under the leadership of Greg Shipperd, and Charlotte Edwards in our women’s program, and we’re delighted to be able to add Motty’s experience to that group, taking us forward.”

In the BBL draft last weekend, the Sydney Sixers managed to keep James Vince despite the Melbourne Renegades trying to sign him. They also made a surprise move by selecting Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan as their final pick. Before the draft, they had already secured West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.

Why the Fuss? Mark Watt’s 25-Yard ‘Long Ball’ Causes Stir Against Australia

In the closing moments of the opening T20I between Australia and Scotland in Edinburgh, the focus shifted from Travis Head’s explosive batting to the unusual tactics of left-arm spinner Mark Watt. Watt’s unconventional ‘long ball’ deliveries led to some confusion with the rules.

After Mitchell Marsh was dismissed near the boundary, Watt bowled a 25-yard delivery to Josh Inglis. Inglis stepped away at the last moment, causing the ball to hit the leg bail. The umpire called it a ‘dead ball,’ though he seemed to have a conversation with Inglis about it. This situation repeated shortly after when Marcus Stoinis stepped away while facing a delivery, but this time, the ball missed the stumps.

“It’s just trying to rush [the batters],” Watt has previously explained. “By the time I’ve let it go, the batsman looks up and the ball’s halfway down the wicket.”

The wording of the relevant Law, 20.4.2.5, showed the umpire had made the correct call. “Either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball when…the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it. Provided the umpire is satisfied that the striker had adequate reason for not being ready, the ball shall not count as one of the over.”

Umpire Decisions and Controversies: Mark Watt’s Unconventional Deliveries Spark Debate

The decision for a batter to pull away is up to the umpire’s judgment, and Mark Watt clearly thought Inglis was ready to face the ball. Freeze-frame images showed that Inglis was still looking down when Watt started his run-up, although he was looking at the bowler just before the ball was delivered. On commentary, former Scotland captain Preston Mommsen remarked that Inglis was lucky in this situation. “The unexpected nature of the delivery coming from 23, 24 yards. He’s a very lucky man to still be there,” he said.

While the outcome of the game wouldn’t have changed, this situation isn’t the first time there’s been debate over whether Watt was unfairly denied a wicket. A similar incident happened during the T20 World Cup earlier this year when Oman batter Khalid Kail was ‘bowled’ after stepping away, but umpire Chris Brown called it a dead ball. At that time, Watt and captain Richie Berrington discussed the call with the umpire. On Wednesday, although the game continued with minimal disruption, there were boos from the crowd after the second dead ball was called. Commentator Tom Moody, during the World Cup match, felt that Kail was ready and the ball should not have been ruled dead. “The batter’s looking up. He’s ready. To me, that is a legitimate ball,” Moody had said. “The ball is live. As soon as the batter has placed his bat down and faces up, looks up to the bowler, he’s ready to go.”

Australia was prepared for this tactic when they played Scotland in the T20 World Cup in St Lucia, where Inglis was part of the squad and Stoinis was in the playing eleven.