Western Australian super coach Adam Voges has put himself firmly in the frame to be Australia’s next men’s mentor
National coach Andrew McDonald is potentially entering into his final 24 months in charge. BEN HORNE unpacks why Cricket Australia should make Adam Voges an immediate priority in succession planning.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Has the Sheffield Shield final thrown up Australia’s next head coach?
Former Test player Adam Voges’ incredible list of achievements as the super coach of Western Australia cannot be overstated, and it just so happens he will be a free agent the same year the national job potentially comes up for grabs again.
Current Australian coach Andrew McDonald has intimated he is unlikely to seek a second term given the demands of the role, with his four-year deal due to expire in 2026.
McDonald could of course change his mind, but the lessons are there from his predecessors, in Justin Langer, who failed to get the contract extension he was after, and Darren Lehmann, who on reflection admitted it was a mistake for him to stay on as Australian coach beyond his initial contract.
Western Australia’s landslide Shield final victory over Tasmania has put another exclamation mark on perhaps the most dominant domestic outfit of the modern era.
Since 2022, Voges has overseen three consecutive Shield titles, three consecutive one-day titles and two of the three Big Bash titles contested.
Voges was a fine Test batsman, who averaged 61 from his 20 Tests, and he has transferred his understated style seamlessly to coaching, where, like McDonald, he has a great ability to understand and connect with his dressing room.
Perhaps the biggest argument against Voges succeeding McDonald would be that he’s invaluable to Australian cricket in his current role as the benchmark setter in the domestic competitions, more so than he could be as mentor of the Test team.
In fact, Cricket Australia would love to clone Voges and put him into some other state systems around the country.
The same can be said for WA’s powerhouse chief executive, Christina Matthews, who is exiting her role with a legacy of having headed-up the rise of the No. 1 nursery in Australian cricket.
It’s quite something that a female administrator not given the opportunity to lead by her home state NSW, has gone west and set-up a system which has now replaced NSW as the premier breeding ground for talent in the country.
NSW has shown some signs of renewal this season under the steady hand of Greg Shipperd, thanks largely to the emergence of young guns Ollie Davies and Jack Edwards, but Matthews, Voges and Western Australia has set a very high bar for what every other state should be aiming to be.
Western Australia left Ashton Agar out of its Shield final XI, lost Cameron Bancroft to a bike riding accident on the eve of the match, and were without Australian stars Mitchell Marsh,
Cameron Green, Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris – and yet still cruised to a thumping 377-run victory.
The depth of talent is extraordinary and the culture instilled by Voges, faultless.
Coaching Australia is a completely different beast to coaching a domestic side, but Voges literally could not be doing anymore to build his resume.
In a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo’s Alex Malcolm, Voges refused to be drawn on his future coaching ambitions.
“Beyond these two years, I don’t actually know ultimately what that looks like,” Voges said.
“It’s like a player really. You do the best job that you possibly can and you control what you can control and then if opportunities present themselves beyond that, then that’s great.”
Voges had to wait until the very twilight of his career as a player to earn a baggy green, but as a coach, Australian cricket should be making him an immediate priority.
More Coverage
Originally published as Western Australian super coach Adam Voges has put himself firmly in the frame to be Australia’s next men’s mentor
Crash: Why selectors distanced themselves from Smith’s decision
It’s no surprise Australia put a bomb under the plan to make Steve Smith an opener but it was a surprise who lit the fuse, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
Teen phenom in Test frame as selectors backflip on Smith plan
The picture for Australia’s first Test team is becoming clearer – with chief selector George Bailey revealing plenty after the announcement of the Australia A squad.