Adam Voges named Seattle Orcas head coach for 2026 MLC season

Western Australia head coach Adam Voges, who recently announced that he would be stepping away from his duties in Australian domestic cricket, is set to take charge of the Seattle Orcas in next season’s Major League Cricket (MLC). The move is seen as a step toward further strengthening his leadership profile on the global T20 franchise circuit.

Voges replaces fellow Australian Matthew Mott, who was dismissed after the Seattle Orcas lost their first five games of the 2025 season. Following Voges’ announcement that he was leaving the domestic coaching setup, it was widely anticipated that he would assume a senior role with an MLC franchise.

"I am very excited to be joining the Seattle Orcas for the upcoming season. The MLC competition continues to grow and I look forward to working with the owners, players and staff to help bring success both on and off the field,” said Voges as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

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After taking over from Justin Langer in 2018, Voges enjoyed a successful tenure with Western Australia, and he has long been considered a leading candidate to eventually succeed Australia head coach Andrew McDonald, whose current contract runs through to 2027.

McDonald has indicated he is unlikely to seek an extension, having been in the role since early 2022. Voges has previously coached Australia A and worked with the senior national side. He also strengthened his T20 franchise credentials earlier by joining Trent Rockets in The Hundred as an assistant coach.

WA Cricket remains in discussions with Voges about continuing as Perth Scorchers head coach in the Big Bash League (BBL), after he guided the franchise to back-to-back titles in BBL11 and BBL12. Voges also won the trophy twice as captain. Assistant coaches Beau Casson and Tim MacDonald are expected to be among the leading candidates to replace him as WA head coach should he step away.

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Voges, who averaged a remarkable 61.87 in 20 Tests for Australia, now faces the challenge of reviving the Seattle Orcas’ fortunes. After reaching the final in MLC’s inaugural season, the franchise has managed just four wins from 17 matches across the 2024-25 campaigns.

"We are thrilled to welcome Adam Voges to the Seattle Orcas family. He brings a proven pedigree of winning, a distinctive ability to develop world-class talent, and a deep understanding of the nuances of T20 franchise cricket,” said Seattle Orcas chief Hemant Dua.

"His dominant run with Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers speaks to his expertise. We believe Adam's calm demeanor, tactical intelligence, and commitment to building a high-performance culture will be pivotal as we aim for the Major League Cricket title. We are building something special in Seattle, and Adam is undoubtedly the right person to lead the charge,” he added.