England set to hire David Saker and David Hussey for T20 World Cup

David Saker and David Hussey are set for white-ball coaching roles during England’s T20 World Cup campaign in Australia this winter amid a broader move to split the international support staff by way of format.

Brendon McCullum, the men’s Test head coach, is looking to begin a new slimmed- down operation on his side of the equation for the tour of Pakistan in December, with Marcus Trescothick, Paul Collingwood and Jeetan Patel – all already on the books – becoming his three chosen assistants. And Matthew Mott, the men’s white-ball head coach, will similarly have three permanent deputies in his coaching team long term, with an expectation that Richard Dawson, currently lead pathway coach, may well make an internal move.

However, the upcoming T20 tour of Pakistan that departs next week, and then the T20 World Cup in Australia this October, are deemed to require two short-term hire, with Saker, England bowling coach from 2010 to 2015, and Hussey, the former Australia and Nottinghamshire middle order player, understood to be in the frame.

The former’s top-level coaching CV is extensive, the 56-year-old having followed his previous England stint with senior positions in the Big Bash League, the Australian men’s setup from 2016 to 2019 and then roles with the USA and Sri Lanka. Hussey, the younger brother of Mike Hussey, represented Australia in more than 100 limited overs internationals. The 45-year-old has been a coach at Kolkata Knightriders – where he worked with McCullum – and Melbourne Stars since his retirement in 2017.

Neither deal is signed but Saker is down to make both trips, while Hussey may join when England start their World Cup preparations in Perth with the first of three T20s against Australia on 9 October.