The rivalry between Australia and England is one of the oldest and most storied in the sport, immortalised through the Ashes. Despite the fierce competition between the two nations, several Australians have enjoyed successful coaching stints with England across both men’s and women’s cricket.
Here’s a look at three Australians who have served as head coaches of England in either the men’s or women’s setup:
#1 Trevor Bayliss
Trevor Bayliss was a middle‑order batter during his playing days, representing New South Wales in first‑class and List A cricket. He scored 3,060 runs in 58 first‑class matches at an average of 35.58, including five hundreds and 15 fifties. In List A cricket, he amassed 1,196 runs in 50 games at 29.90, with one century and six half‑centuries.
Bayliss was appointed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2015 as Andy Flower’s successor. Under his leadership, England won the 2019 ODI World Cup, their maiden title in the format. His tenure also included an unbeaten run in the home Ashes series.
#2 Matthew Mott
Matthew Mott had a productive domestic career with Queensland and Victoria before transitioning into coaching, where he became a pivotal figure in Australia’s women’s cricket setup. He scored 3,723 runs in 66 first‑class matches, registering seven hundreds and 20 fifties.
Mott took over as England men’s white‑ball head coach in May 2022 after seven successful years in charge of Australia’s women’s team. Under his guidance, England won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 on Australian soil with Jos Buttler as captain.
However, England’s failure to defend their ODI World Cup title in 2023 and their T20 World Cup crown in 2024 led to an early end to Mott’s tenure. He departed on July 30, 2024, before completing his four‑year term.
#3 Lisa Keightley
Lisa Keightley enjoyed a distinguished ODI career for Australia, scoring 2,630 runs at an average of 39.84, including four hundreds and 21 fifties. She was appointed England women’s head coach in late 2019.
Keightley guided England to the final of the 2022 ODI World Cup, where they were defeated by Australia by 71 runs after Alyssa Healy’s match‑winning performance. She also coached England to the semifinals of the 2020 T20 World Cup and to the bronze medal match at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She stepped down at the end of the English summer in 2022.