Cricket Australia have extended Shelley Nitschke’s contract by a further three years
Shelley Nitschke has extended her contract to coach Australia’s women’s team until mid-2029, as she prepares her side for next month’s T20 World Cup in England.
Nitschke’s new three-year contract that will ensure she remains at the helm across an action-packed upcoming period for the women’s game.
The former Australia allrounder, who took over from Matthew Mott as head coach in 2022 on an initial four-year deal, will oversee the next four major global tournaments, including the 2026 and 2028 T20 World Cups, the inaugural women’s Champions Trophy in 2027 and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The next three years will also see Australia travel to England for the Ashes in mid-2027, and host their fiercest rivals in early 2029, while they will also travel to South Africa and India for blockbuster multi-format tours in 2027.
“It’s a privilege to continue coaching this team and working with such an outstanding group of players and staff,” Nitschke said in a statement.
“We’ve achieved a great deal together, but there’s also enormous motivation around what this group can accomplish in the years ahead.
“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.”
Nitschke found immediate success after her elevation from assistant coach to the top job in 2022 as Australia won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and followed up with a third consecutive T20 World Cup title in Cape Town in early 2023.
In January 2025, they thrashed England 16-0 in the multi-format Ashes and have maintained their No.1 ranking in both white-ball formats (no Test rankings exist in the women’s game) across Nitschke’s tenure.
However, Australia are desperate to restock their ICC trophy cabinet next month in the UK, following semi-final exits at the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 ODI World Cup.
“I am delighted Shelley will remain at the helm of the Australian team for the next three years,” CA CEO Todd Greenberg said.
“Shelley has overseen some outstanding achievements and helped ensure the team’s number one world ranking has been maintained throughout her time as coach.
“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.”
Australia’s T20 World Cup squad will travel to the United Kingdom on Tuesday ahead of the tournament starting on June 13.
They will meet South Africa in three unofficial practice matches at Arundel Castle over the coming week, before travelling to Cardiff for warm-up matches against England and the West Indies at Sophia Gardens.
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Australia squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham. Travelling reserve: Tahlia Wilson
Warm-up series v South Africa
May 31: Australia v South Africa, Arundel Castle
June 2: Australia v South Africa, Arundel Castle
June 4: Australia v South Africa, Arundel Castle
ICC World Cup warm-up matches
June 9: v England, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 12am AEST
June 11: v West Indies, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 12am AEST
Australia’s Group 1 fixtures
June 13: v South Africa, Old Trafford, Manchester, 11:30pm AEST
June 17: v Bangladesh, Headingley, Leeds, 7:30pm AEST
June 20: v Netherlands, Rose Bowl, Hampshire, 7:30pm AEST
June 24: v Pakistan, Headingley, Leeds, 3:30am AEST
June 28: v India, Lord’s, London, 11:30pm AEST
Semi-final 1: The Oval, London, June 30, 11:30pm AEST
Semi-final 2: The Oval, London, July 2 (3:30am July 3 AEST)
Final: Lord’s, London, July 5, 11:30pm AEST
Click here for the full tournament schedule
All matches will be broadcast on Amazon’s Prime Video
