Paul Collingwood is the front-runner to become England’s next white ball coach

Paul Collingwood emerges as the front-runner to become England's next white ball coach, and he is facing competition from Matthew Mott, the head coach of Australia's women's team, and Australian former veteran cricketer Simon Katich. 

Brendon McCullum has been named as the head of the England Test team, and he is expected to take charge after the Indian Premier League (IPL).

England's T20I and ODI teams have been successful in recent years, ranking second in both formats. In contrast, the Test team has only won one Test match in the last 17 games, and McCullum's appointment as head coach could bring in the missing charm for the Three Lions.

Collingwood has been a part of England's coaching staff since 2018 and was Chris Silverwood's assistant. In March, he served as interim head coach for the Test team in the West Indies but has always been considered a white-ball expert.

On the contrary, under Mott's coaching tenure, the Australian women's team won 26 consecutive ODIs, and back-to-back T20 World Cups and the 2022 ODI World Cup as well. 

As per reports, McCullum had suggested the Australian's name for the New Zealand head coach role during his playing days. However, things could not pan out properly for Mott.

Although there won't be a direct linkup between England Test and limited-overs coach, the Kiwi legend could have a say in the selection.

However, the new managing director of England men's cricket, Rob Key, will make the final decision. The newly appointed ECB chief, who looked like an out-of-box thinker, could finalise the head coach by the end of the following week.  

"We have to look at how we educate our coaches. You want to invest in the right people. There are a lot of other things you can do in the game. You and I went to the other side of the fence in the media and that's very attractive but we have to make sure we keep an eye on the best people coming through the system because in a few years they might be ready to become England coach," Key told Sky last week.