Matthew Mott Exclusive Interview for CREX. Image Credits: AFP
On Wednesday, August 26, the inaugural edition of European T20 Premier League (ETPL 2026) got underway. It was a special moment for associate nations from Europe to finally have a league of their own.
The league has got some of the finest cricketers and coaches from all over the world. One name that stands out from the rest is Matthew Mott, who is serving as an assistant coach for Glasgow Cosmic.
Ahead of a busy summer, CREX, in partnership with Glasgow Cosmic, spoke to Matthew Mott, where he talked about ETPL, rising stars like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, crisis within ECB and a dream team.
Matthew Mott shared his experience on working with England cricket, returning to Sydney Sixers as a head coach, opportunity in IPL and the challenge in ETPL. Mott's interaction with CREX concluded with a fun game.
Below are the excerpts:
Q.1 - Sir, you've won four ICC trophies, won the inaugural Champions League, won the Ashes with the women's team. You've won it all. So how has the ETPL challenge excited you, and how is this league different from IPL and BBL?
The first part that excited me was that it's just something brand new. I live in Cardiff at the moment, so the thought of playing at some amazing venues. I've also spent some time as a player in Holland and Scotland. So when the Glasgow Cosmic name came up there, I had some fond memories.
I played there as an 18-year-old in a place called Eyre just south of Glasgow, so it certainly felt like it was a great opportunity.
And having people like Matthew Hayden involved, who I grew up sort of idolising as a young Queensland player and had the fortune to play quite a bit with. Even across the league, when you see some of the names there like Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh, you know that if they're invested in a league like this then that's a really good opportunity.
Certainly, I think I'm quite passionate about growing the game of cricket, whether it's male, female or European in all parts around the world. So it certainly would be something brand new. Yeah, it was very enticing.
Q. 2 Do you think that ETPL will help players from the Netherlands, Scotland and Ireland grow similarly to Afghanistan and help them get opportunities in leagues like IPL and BBL?
Yeah, I think the way the world is going, there's certainly several leagues popping up, and what you need to do I guess in a new environment is to create something that people want to come to, they want to aspire to. So attract really good players. I think across the board, looking at the six teams, some magnificent players have done it on the world stage.
So that's a good start, and then I think it's about getting good support and coaches around the players. So there's absolutely no reason why the local players won't grow from this opportunity. You know, rubbing shoulders with some of the best players in the world, you have to get better.
I can only speak for our environment, but certainly those players are like sponges at the moment. They're asking a lot of really good questions about preparation and how they can get better as an individual.
So all those things in the mix I would say it's a really exciting time for particularly those three countries, but then I'm sure the goal for the league long term is to expand even further and give more players from different countries an opportunity to be part of something really special.
Q.3 ETPL is different in one aspect: the owners are also playing in the league. Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell are two examples. So do you think it is a growing trend or will it be a problem going forward?
I think it's just quite a unique thing, and look, I don't know exactly the ins and outs of how it will transpire but one thing you can be assured of is if people have got real skin in the game, they're going to do everything they can to make it work.
The people you've mentioned there attract people. People want to be around them. With all of them at different levels, Faf du Plessis is an incredible character and leader, and you can see by the calibre of players they've added to their list that he's a natural attraction. Hayden is going to do the same with us.
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People remember what an amazing player he was. He's a broadcaster as well, so he's current in the actual game, and I think it's an exciting opportunity.
Maxwell speaks for himself in T20 cricket. He's been in just about every league going around and done very well. So when you've got people like that invested in the game. I think it's certainly a great bedrock to start from, and as it goes on you sort of grow even further.
Q.4 The tournament is about finding young talents. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has taken the world by storm. Your views on it?
I must admit I haven't seen Vaibhav Sooryavanshi up close. I probably saw him hitting in the nets a bit the year before in the IPL, but I wasn't there last year. But I do speak to a lot of players, and I think it's universally agreed that he's an incredible talent.
I know, speaking to Liam Livingstone, who saw him up close, he said you can't remember him mishitting a ball, whether that be in practice or in games. So yeah, he's an exciting machine. There's no doubt about that. And look, I think he seems to be managing it all pretty well.
There's a lot thrown at him for a young player. And that'll be the key: that he's allowed to develop his own game across all three formats. He's obviously made a massive impact in T20 on the biggest stage, which is the IPL. So he's got an incredibly bright future, but yeah, he'll be wonderful.
Q.5 You've worked with the England team, guided them to their 2nd T20 World Cup title. You saw what happened with Brendon McCullum and you've backed him. How do you view the situation in England cricket?
You've worked with people. You will always support other coaches. I think everyone who's been in coaching knows sometimes how lonely a place it can be. You're accountable for a lot, and some things are out of your control. So I've got a lot of empathy for what Brendon's gone through in the last 12 months.
I think what he has clearly maintained is the support of the playing group, and I think as a coach that's paramount. If you've got the support of the playing group and they believe in what you do, then sometimes the other stuff becomes outside noise.
Obviously there's been some incidents going on recently which are regrettable, but I think as a team, certainly under Joe Root now as captain of the Test team, I think you've got a solid human as well who will try and engender some really good things for the team.
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In time, hopefully they learn from those mistakes. I think we all make mistakes. I suppose the big thing is you don't want to be continually making the same ones. Now, they have Stephen Fleming. I think that combination should work really well. I think England in 12 months' time could look a very different team.
Q.6 You have worked with Ben Stokes. Under your tenure, he quit ODI cricket and reversed his decision. So there is a similar situation right now. He has left international cricket, and the Ashes is coming up. So do you think that he'll reverse his decision?
With what's going on, I think, like everyone, it just becomes a breaking point. He decided that, whether or not he wants to reflect on it in the future, I think the door will always be open for Ben to come back. I think any team would welcome a world-class all-rounder. He can bowl you heavy overs. He can swing it when he needs to, and he's a quality batter.
So they're hard to replace. I think over time you never know. He's still young enough. He certainly looks fit enough to go for several years. I hope for his sake that he plays again.
I think whether you're English or Australian, you want the best players playing in the Ashes, and he's one of the best players. So in time let's see, but I don't think there's any rush for him to make any changes at the moment.
Q.7. So you'll be there in the BBL. Congratulations on becoming Sydney Sixers' head coach. They recently announced a collaboration with IPL. BBL 2026-27 will hold its first match in India. So how do you see this collaboration?
Yeah, I think it's a great idea. I think you've got two fantastic competitions going together and we all know there's probably an urge for privatisation in some of the clubs within the BBL. So in many ways it's an opportunity to showcase the BBL.
I'm sure most Indians have watched it several times anyway, but there's nothing like being right on your doorstep and being able to go and see the game live, and I'm sure there'll be some massive crowds for that.
There'll be a lot of interest. And in many ways it's a great way to start the BBL. There are only real positives. Obviously for the teams involved there'll be some logistical challenges around travelling in and out.
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But I think for the bigger picture it's a worthwhile step in that direction and certainly puts the BBL right in front of Indian eyes, which we all know drives a lot of the revenue throughout the world. So I think it's a significant step.
Q.8. The Sixers have a very star-studded team. They have Mitchel Starc, Babar Azam, and Steve Smith. You saw what happened last season, the infamous moment between Babar and Steve Smith. So as a coach, how will you handle such a star-studded side?
I guess from my point of view, a number of those players you mentioned won't be on our list this year. So it's a different dynamic. What we do have at the Sixers is an incredible core of young players that have grown up playing in Sydney.
And I think for me that's the most exciting thing: a lot of the guys that are in that team were there when I first was a coach at NSW. So it's almost like I saw them at the start of their careers and now a few of them are established, great players.
They're the likes of Sean Abbott and Jordan Silk, obviously, for the last few years have been there as well as senior leaders. And then you've got a new young crop like Jack Edwards coming through.
So it's a great team to coach. I've been there before; this will be the third year I've been back there, and I've obviously had a couple of stints before. So for me it's just an exciting opportunity, and I'm really looking forward to it.
Obviously we've got this new period of signing players to get through, and then once we get that we'll be very established and looking forward to an exciting season ahead.
Q.9 About IPL, You've been previously associated with Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders. This year, there are also several coaching positions up for grabs. So have you received any offers, or are you preferring any one franchise?
I think the IPL will always be something that attracts any coach. It's an incredible learning environment. You get around some amazing players. I've enjoyed every opportunity I've had over there. It's tough going as well. It's a relatively long tournament, a lot of travel.
I'll certainly be open to options. I've actually got a relatively full calendar at the moment, which I'm quite happy with, and spending a lot of time in the UK, in and around my family. If something comes up, I'll certainly consider it.
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I'm very happy with what I'm doing now and particularly excited about this month ahead with Glasgow Cosmic. Being part of something from its infancy is certainly a different challenge and an exciting one.
Q10. If you have to build an 11-a-side team from scratch and get to pick one player from every nation in T20 cricket, which one would it be?
India- KL Rahul
He wouldn't be on everyone's list, but I actually love to work with KL Rahul, and I think he's a lot better T20 player than he's probably been given the opportunity for and an outstanding teammate.
Australia - Steve Smith
He's under everyone's radar, but he's done incredibly well. He's scored 5 hundreds for the Sixers in about 10 games. In my eyes, he's one of the better ones.
England - Harry Brook
South Africa - Jacques Kallis
I just think anyone who's that good with bat and ball and in the field, I just feel he's one of the more underrated players in the world. Probably didn't play as much T20, but I would love to have him on my team.
Pakistan - Umar Gul
Going old school for this one. Back in the day, my Kolkata days. Incredible death bowler.
Sri Lanka - Sanath Jayasuriya
New Zealand - Brendon McCullum
Afghanistan - Rashid Khan
Bangladesh - Shakib Al Hasan
Ireland - Will Porterfield
Netherlands - Bas de Leede
Matthew Mott's World XI
1. Brendon McCullum
2. Sanath Jayasuriya
3. Will Porterfield
4. KL Rahul
5. Steve Smith
6. Harry Brook
7. Jacques Kallis
8. Bas de Leede
9. Shakib Al Hasan
10. Rashid Khan
11. Umar Gul
Q11. One Opposition player you spent most of the time talking about in the dressing room making strategies against?
I'd say Smriti Mandhana. We spent a lot of time in the seven years. I was there trying to get her out and not very successfully. So she was very good.
In men's cricket, I remember, I'll say this, Jos Buttler was, when he came through, certainly someone that in every team meeting, we spent half an hour trying to dissect how we're going to bowl to him, and then he still smashed us all around the ground. So it'd have to be Jos.
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