“Rach’s loss will no doubt be felt, but it presents a great opportunity for others to raise their hands, both from a leadership perspective and with the bat and on the field. Our challenge is to ensure the team continues to evolve We’ve seen teams like India take their game to the next level and it’s important that the players feel they have the support they need to get better every day.
“Our team continues to grow and I’m excited to see what this group can achieve next; some important cricket is on the horizon, including the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in February and from Ashes next winter, so it’s a great time to participate.”
Nitschke’s first assignment as permanent head coach is the T20I tour of India in December. Australia will then face Pakistan on home soil in January before heading to South Africa to defend their T20 title.
“We are delighted to appoint Shelley as the head coach of our women’s world champion team,” said Ben Oliver, the general manager of high performance and national teams. “She did an outstanding job in an interim capacity during the Commonwealth Games and was the clear standout candidate in the recruitment process.
“Shelley is an incredibly respected coach with a proven track record. She knows what it takes to be successful at international level and brings significant coaching and playing experience.
“She has been a great mentor to the spin group since she joined as an assistant in 2018, and she has helped develop into some of the world’s leading bowlers, and we look forward to seeing what the team can achieve with Shelley at the helm.”