Players pretty connected despite isolation: Mott

Players pretty connected despite isolation: Mott

SYDNEY: Two weeks after Australia lifted the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy, coach Matthew Mott spoke about the magical final and what impact the current global emergency has had on Australian cricket.

Australia defended their 2018 title with a resounding 85-run victory over India in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which saw a record 86,174 attendance on International Women’s Day on March 8.

The final’s popularity was a culmination of the last couple of years’ efforts that went into the development of women’s cricket. Mott thanked everyone involved and also spoke about the lasting legacy the tournament has left behind.

“There’s been a real drive from cricket community in women’s cricket. There are a lot of people who should take credit for that — Belinda Clarke, James Sutherland, Pat Howard. All the former players, who set the foundation for what has been a real celebration. The legacy will live on,” he said.

“I got a call from Andrew Symonds the other day and he said that ‘I’m just so proud of this team’ and the images of the players celebrating and dancing with Katy Perry at the end those will last in the memory of anyone who watched the game and this event for many years to come.

“The players have become heroes for a whole new audience. It’s a male audience as well not just female. The next generation will be so much better for that experience we went through,” he further added.

Despite the worldwide crisis, Mott said that Cricket Australia’s proactive measures have helped the team stay connected. He added that the team’s next focus will be the women’s 50-over World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in a year’s time in New Zealand.

“We have had our debriefs which we have after any major tournament online. We had one-on-one meetings with every player and they went down without a hitch. We feel pretty connected despite the isolation.”

Article source: https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/634018-players-pretty-connected-despite-isolation-mott