Cricket Australia (CA) has announced the extension of Andrew McDonald’s contract as the Head Coach of the Australian men’s cricket team, a position he has held since 2022. The extension will see McDonald lead the team through an array of major international tournaments, including the next ICC World Test Championship, the defence of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title, the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Since taking the helm, McDonald has led Australia to remarkable achievements, including winning the ICC World Test Championship and the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, as well as retaining the Ashes in England. Under his leadership, the Australian team is currently ranked as the No.1 Test team globally and holds No.2 positions in both ODI and T20 formats.

The extended contract period will be a demanding one, highlighted by an unprecedented 13 months of Test cricket in 2026-27. This includes away series against arch-rivals India and England and the historic 150th-anniversary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

CA CEO Nick Hockley expressed confidence in McDonald’s ongoing impact: “Andrew has proven to be an outstanding men’s head coach who, along with delivering exceptional results, has built a strong coaching team, methodology, and an excellent environment for the team to perform at its best. We are delighted to extend his tenure for a further two years.”

The extension, Hockley added, is timed perfectly to align McDonald’s leadership with some of the biggest events in international cricket.

“Excitingly, this extension means Andrew will take the team to the next World Test Championship campaign, World Cup defense, and the next T20 World Cup. The period also includes an unprecedented 13 months of Test cricket in 2026-27 featuring away series against India and England, and the 150th-anniversary Test at the MCG.”

McDonald expressed gratitude for the opportunity to continue leading the team and praised the environment built under his tenure: “I am very fortunate to have an exceptional group of leaders, players, coaches, and staff who are fully invested in the ongoing well-being, success, and development of this group,” he said. “The professionalism, commitment, and experience of my fellow coaches and the wider staff have ensured the journey has been extremely successful but just as importantly created a culture of unity, trust, and inclusivity.”

McDonald acknowledged the challenges international cricket presents, but said he is proud of how his team has tackled each one with resilience and unity.

Ben Oliver, CA’s Executive General Manager of National Teams, noted that McDonald’s influence extends beyond the field:

“Andrew is an outstanding coach, and we are thrilled that he has extended his commitment to the Australian men’s team. Andrew has created a performance environment that resonates strongly with the playing group and has produced some outstanding results.”

Oliver emphasized the value of McDonald’s partnership with captains Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh, alongside selectors and the support team, as the foundation for continued success.

With McDonald’s contract extension, Australia’s men’s team is well-poised to face the challenges of an action-packed international schedule and defend their status as a powerhouse in all