The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced Australian paceman, Matt Mason, as England women’s team fast bowling coach. Matt had initially played for Western Australia and then made the most of an Irish passport as he went on to play for Worcestershire, England in 2001.
48-year-old, Matt Mason struck over 400 wickets in his 15-year professional career and then took up coaching stints in county cricket with Leicestershire and Worcestershire and back home in Australia as well with the Perth Scorchers and Western Australia.
Matt Mason in his long 9-year stint at the Worcestershire was part of the coaching staff when the side won the 2nd division of the County Championship in 2017 and then recently assisted Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL) in 2021/22 season. During his stint at Perth, Matt has furnished Australian fast bowlers Cameron Green and Jhye Richardson.
During his soon-to-begin stint with the English women’s team, Matt Mason will now have a young and exciting fast bowlers group of Issy Wong, Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp to furnish. On his signing, Matt Mason said, “I am really excited about taking on this role and I can’t wait to get started with England Women. There are only a handful of jobs I would have left Warwickshire for this is one of them. I had no intention of leaving the club, I loved my time there, but when this opportunity came up I felt I had to take it.
“I’ve never coached at the international level before, it’s an exciting prospect and I don’t know if such a chance would ever arise again in the future. I’m looking forward to meeting the group, getting to know everyone and hopefully helping drive the team forward to on-field success.”
Director of England women’s cricket, Jonathan Finch said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have secured someone of the caliber of Matt. He was a very strong candidate for the role and we’re looking forward to seeing what he brings to the England Women’s cricket team.
“It was important that we recruited someone with a track record of working with and improving a group of fast bowlers at an elite level. Matt will play a central role in developing current and future England bowlers, and we are excited by the leadership he will bring to fast bowling across the women’s game.
“It was important that we recruited someone with a track record of working with and improving a group of fast bowlers at an elite level. Matt will play a central role in developing current and future England bowlers, and we are excited by the leadership he will bring to fast bowling across the women’s game.
“We’re in the process of recruiting a head coach and Matt will be a valued part of that person’s coaching staff, bringing great expertise and experience in the field of fast bowling. I would also like to thank Warwickshire CCC in allowing Matt to make the move to his new role so quickly.”
England with the signing has filled in Tim McDonald’s void who was an early appointment by former England head coach, Lisa Keightley and now have got a final vacant slot that of the head coach to fill in following Lisa Keightley’s decision in opting against a contract extension.
(Quotes sourced from ESPN)
