Shelley Nitschke named Australia Women assistant coach

Shelley Nitschke, the former Australia Women all-rounder, has been appointed as assistant coach of the national women’s team for the next two years.

Also joining head coach Matthew Mott’s team of support staff is Ashley Noffke, the former Australia all-rounder who had a long career with Queensland.

Nitschke, 41, had 153 wickets from 122 international matches bowling her left-arm spin, while also pitching in with 3118 runs and is an Australian great. She was ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in 2010, and went on to retire the following year.

She was assistant coach for the team on their successful tour of India, where they blanked the hosts in the ICC Women’s Championship one-day internationals, and beat England to lift the women’s tri-series Twenty20 International trophy, and is now set to take on a long-term role.

Cricket Australia announced on Friday 18 May that starting 25 June, Nitschke would work alongside Leah Poulton with the Women’s National Performance Squad as well as coach the women’s Aboriginal XI squad on their tour of England to commemorate 150 years since the 1868 Aboriginal tour of the UK. She is expected to continue as assistant coach with Adelaide Strikes in the Women's Big Bash League.

Noffke, 41, has five wickets from three limited-overs appearances for the national side. His first-class career meanwhile led to 386 wickets and two centuries in 118 outings.

The two fill the positions vacated by Joe Dawes and Tim Coyle.

“[Noffke and Nitschke] both bring extensive playing experience to the group which will be invaluable across a period that includes the World T20 in the Caribbean later this year and an away Ashes series next winter. I'm looking forward to seeing them build on the strong foundation that Joe and Tim have laid,” said Mott.

“Shelley is a high-quality coach and a product of the elite coaching pathway,” noted Pat Howard, Executive General Manager of Team Performance.

“With [her] appointment, Australian cricket now has six women employed in full-time elite coaching roles at national and domestic level, with a further five women working part-time as assistant coaches or national selectors.

“The continued development of female coaches is a key focus across Australian cricket with national captain Meg Lanning, vice-captain Rachael Haynes and Elyse Villani all expected to complete their level three coaching accreditations this year.”

Australia’s next assignments are three T20Is against New Zealand starting on 29 September, ahead of the ICC Women’s World T20 in November.