Australia Women’s head coach Shelley Nitschke signs three-year contract extension

Australia Women’s Head Coach Shelley Nitschke has signed a three-year contract extension, which would take her tenure at the helm till June 2029.

Nitschke was appointed on an interim basis in May 2022 after the then-coach Matthew Mott was appointed head coach of the England Men’s white-ball teams. She was then appointed full-time in September 2022 on a four-year deal.

“I am delighted Shelley will remain at the helm of the Australian team for the next three years. Shelley has overseen some outstanding achievements and helped ensure the team’s number one world ranking has been maintained throughout her time as coach,” Todd Greenberg, CEO of Cricket Australia, said in an official statement.

She is also successfully guiding a period of transition with some brilliant young players joining the team from the large pool of women and girls now participating in our game. Good luck to Shelley and the team with their next challenge at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UK next month,” he added.

Nitschke has led Australia through a period of significant success, further cementing their dominance in the women’s game. During her tenure, they won the gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, lifted the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, won the 2022-25 ICC Women’s Championship, and retained the number 1 ranking throughout. Australia also continued to hold all bilateral series trophies during this period.

“It’s a privilege to continue coaching this team and working with such an outstanding group of players and staff. We’ve achieved a great deal together, but there’s also enormous motivation around what this group can accomplish in the years ahead,” Nitschke said, as per the aforementioned source.

“There are some major events and exciting challenges on the horizon and I’m looking forward to helping guide the team through the next phase,” she added.

Australia’s next major assignment is the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be played in England & Wales in June. They will be looking to lift a record-extending seventh title, after being beaten in the semi-finals of the previous edition. They kick off their campaign against South Africa at Old Trafford on June 13.

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