Hilton Moreeng. (Source – Getty Images)
In a significant move for women’s cricket in the United States, USA Cricket has announced the appointment of Hilton Moreeng as the new full-time head coach for both the senior and Under-19 women’s national teams.
Moreeng comes to USA Cricket with an impressive track record, having earlier served as the head coach of the South African women’s national team for over a decade. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in transforming South African women’s cricket, leading the team to numerous heights.
Under his guidance, Proteas reached the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in 2014 and 2020 and also made history by reaching the finals of the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Moreeng’s experience in building teams from the ground up and his commitment to developing young talent make him an ideal fit for USA Cricket’s aspirations. His approach focuses on creating a culture of excellence and achievement, which aligns perfectly with the organization’s goals.
“I am thrilled to join USA Cricket and eager to collaborate with both current players and emerging talent. My goal is to methodically build a competitive squad capable of rivaling the best in women’s cricket globally. Together, we aim to foster a culture of excellence and achievement within USA Cricket, paving the way for a successful future on the international stage,” said Moreeng as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
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Coach Hilton brings a rich background and vast experience to USA Cricket: Venu Pisike
The new appointment aligns with USA Cricket’s ambitions to develop a competitive women’s program capable of challenging the best in the world. Venu Pisike, Chairman of the Board at USA Cricket, expressed confidence in Moreeng’s abilities.
“Coach Hilton brings a rich background and vast experience to USA Cricket having been a critical part of the transformation of South African women’s cricket. USA women are also at the beginning of a transformative period with an Olympics in four years and we believe Hilton’s successes, diverse experiences, and understanding of challenges in an emerging cricket nation is well suited for our program,” Venu said.
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The timing of the appointment is crucial, with the Olympics just four years away and the U19 Women’s ICC T20 World Cup in 2025 next year. His immediate focus will be on preparing the U19 team for the upcoming World Cup, while simultaneously working on long-term strategies to raise the senior team’s performance on the international stage.