Stuart Law says he's excited to be the Australian coach that USA cricket has chosen to lead its historic push to make the sport a national hit over its breakthrough World Cup summer.

The 55-year-old former international batter has been appointed as head coach of the USA men's national team in the year when cricket will never have had a higher profile there.

The competition is being held in both the US and West Indies in June, with Law, who's previously coached Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies and Afghanistan, seen as the man to spearhead the hosts' hopes of a fine home showing.

"It is an exciting opportunity to join USA cricket at this time," reckoned Law, a prolific run scorer who made an unbeaten half-century in his one Test for Australia while also playing 54 one-day internationals.

"The USA are one of the strongest associate nations in the sport and I believe we can mould a formidable squad.

"The first task will be to prepare the team for a series against Bangladesh and then set our sights on our home World Cup, which will be huge."

The first task for Law, who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2007, will be to oversee the Americans' home series against Bangladesh in three T20s on 21, 23 and 25 May in Houston, Texas.

His first World Cup match will be the tournament opener in Dallas when the hosts will face Canada on 2 June, and they then go on to play Pakistan, India and Ireland in the group stages.

Venu Pisike, the chairperson of USA Cricket, said Law was the right man for the job as "one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport" and added that he would "help the team grow to their full potential".