Matthew Mott, the Australia women's head coach, has emerged as the frontrunner in the race to become England men's white-ball coach, and is likely to be appointed later this week. ESPNcricinfo understands that Mott has been preferred by the interview panel over former England allrounder Paul Collingwood, who was the primary contender having stood in as head coach on the recent tours to the Caribbean.
Following the appointment of Rob Key as managing director of men's cricket, the ECB opted to split the coaching roles. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was unanimously appointed as the head coach of the Test team last week after impressing the interview panel comprising Key, Andrew Strauss (ECB consultant) and Tom Harrison (ECB chief executive officer). In the case of the white-ball head coach job, it is learned the panel also consulted England captain Eoin Morgan.
Coincidentally McCullum had "recommended" Mott for the New Zealand head coach role nearly a decade ago, a job that eventually went to Mike Hesson.
Mott, 48, has been at the helm of the Australia women's team since 2015 when Cricket Australia appointed him as the head coach. Since then Mott, along with the help of the Australian leadership group led by captain Meg Lanning, has turned the women's outfit into the "Invincibles". Having sworn to bounce back after losing their 2017 Women's World Cup semi-final against India, Australia have lost just two matches in 42 ODIs with the winning streak stretching through an unbeaten run to lifting to this year's World Cup.
When it comes to coaching in men's cricket Mott, a top-order batter for Queensland and Victoria, has been in the head coach roles at New South Wales and Glamorgan along with a few short stints with Australia A. In 2009, Mott was also an assistant coach for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL. During the women's World Cup Mott was also mentioned as one of the contenders to replace Justin Langer as Australian men's head coach. However, at the time Mott pointed out he was keen to stick to the leading the women's team.
"As a coach, you have to look at the next pathway ... there will always be that 'what's next?," Mott told AAP. "But I'm thoroughly enjoying what I'm doing at the moment. I don't feel the need to rush off anywhere else. A lot of people think it's a step up to go into the men's program. I think it's just a step across.
"I've been involved with Australia A men's program a couple of times. I've enjoyed my work in there."