New South Wales are on the lookout for a new coach after Matthew Mott confirmed he was heading to the UK to take the reins at Glamorgan. Mott, will depart at the end of the current Australian domestic season, ending his four-year stretch as head coach at New South Wales.
He has a strong record with the Blues, having guided them to the Pura Cup in his first season in charge, in 2007-08, followed by a Big Bash triumph in 2008-09. He became known on the world stage in October 2009, when he steered New South Wales to the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 title in India, where they defeated Trinidad and Tobago in the final.
The Blues are again in a strong position this summer under Mott's stewardship; they sit on top of the Sheffield Shield table and just one point from the competition leaders in the Ryobi Cup. However, at New South Wales he has always had a vast array of international players under his command; 19 of the state's 32 contracted players this season have represented Australia.
His challenge will be very different at Glamorgan, where off-season turmoil has resulted in the departure of the captain Jamie Dalrymple, the cricket manager Matthew Maynard and the club president Peter Walker. Nor has the club had much joy on the field; they missed out on promotion from the County Champion second division, and came last in their Clydesdale Bank 40 group and second-last in their Twenty20 pool.
This is a great coup I think for Glamorgan cricket, Mott has shown the ability to manage top international and grade players, and built a strong development system in his time at NSW. His experience in the Pura Cup and Sheffield Shield I think could raise Glamorgan cricket out of division 2 this season. With such strong links back in NSW grade cricket I would expect him to bring over some young exciting Australian talent to bolster the depleted Glamorgan squad.
The slogan for Glamorgan cricket this season should be “Watch this space”
