Australian Cricket coach Andrew McDonald signs contract extension to 2027
Australian cricket coach Andrew McDonald will stay on until 2027 under a new deal announced on Wednesday.
Since taking over from West Australian legend Justin Langer in 2022, McDonald has racked up an impressive resume alongside another golden generation of Aussie cricket.
As coach, he won Australia’s inaugural ICC World Test Championship, earned a remarkable ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup triumph after nine straight victories and retained the Ashes in England.
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McDonald had previously indicated he may not want to continue his tenure after his original deal but has recommitted for the long term ahead of one of Australia’s biggest non-Ashes summers to date.
The new deal means McDonald will be at the helm as Australia eventually transitions into its next generation, with the likes of Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins all entering the twilight of their careers.
Australia faces a monumental stretch of cricket in the next three years with the next World Test Championship final in 2025, the One-Day Cricket World Cup title defence in 2027 along with the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and next year’s Champion’s Trophy.
The period also includes an unprecedented 13 months of Test cricket in 2026-27, featuring mouth-watering away series against India and England and the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said McDonald had earned the deal. “Andrew has proven to be an outstanding men’s head coach who as well as delivering exceptional results has built a strong coaching team, methodology and an excellent environment for the team to perform at its best. We are delighted to extend his tenure for a further two years,” he said. “Excitingly, this extension means Andrew will take the team to the next World Test Championship campaign, World Cup defence and the next T20 World Cup. “The period also includes an unprecedented 13 months of Test cricket in 2026-27 featuring away series against India and England, and the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG.
“Congratulations to Andrew and we look forward to him continuing his enormous contribution to the team and the game in Australia.”
The move to back in McDonald follows England extending New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who has revitalised English cricket under ‘Bazball’ and will now also take over the reins of the white-ball units.
