Doug Watson will end his tenure as Auckland ACES Head Coach at the end of the 2023/24 season to take up a full-time appointment as coach of the Scotland men’s cricket team.

Watson had been involved with the ACES as Assistant Coach for three seasons before being appointed as Head Coach for the 2022/23 season.

Watson says: “Firstly I would like to thank Auckland Cricket for agreeing to release me with a year still remaining on my contract.

“It’s been a brilliant five years involved with the ACES and an honour to work with all the players and staff alike.

“The ACES are a fantastic group of men and being able to play a small part in their development as players and people has been a privilege.”

Auckland Cricket’s Head of Performance and Talent, Daniel Archer, sees Watson’s departure as a big loss to Auckland Cricket but an exciting opportunity for his coaching career.

“Doug has made a significant contribution to Auckland Cricket, firstly as an Assistant Coach and then as the Head Coach of the Male Performance Programme (ACES). He is a quality individual whose positivity and genuine care has impacted many across our cricket programme and organisation. 

“Developing international talent is an important part of our purpose at Auckland Cricket and we are very proud of Doug as he moves into the ranks of international head coaches.

“I would like to thank Doug greatly for his efforts while with Auckland Cricket and also acknowledge and thank the contribution of his family in the role they have played supporting his cricket journey.  We wish Doug all the very best as he leads Scotland into the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup and beyond,” says Archer.

A highlight of Watson’s coaching tenure came this season with the ACES winning the Super Smash for the first time since 2015/16. They quickly followed this up by reaching the final of the Ford Trophy last month.

Watson takes up a permanent role as Scotland Men’s Head Coach following a successful period as Interim Head Coach during the northern summer of 2023 where he led the team to victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier.

This came after they narrowly missed out on winning the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe after defeating Ireland, UAE, Oman, West Indies and the host nation.

He will join Cricket Scotland in April ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in West Indies and USA with his last day as Head Coach of the Male Performance Programme (ACES) being Friday 12^th April.

Article added: Tuesday 05 March 2024