- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Australia’s next cricket coach could come from left field with officials pledging to think “outside the square” in their global hunt.
Fresh from appointing a former rugby international to a key post, Cricket Australia (CA) signalled hot favourite Steve Rixon isn’t in a one-horse race for the coaching job.
Former Wallaby Pat Howard, now CA’s general manager team performance, will be a central figure in the search for the next coach.
Howard was involved in the process that led to New Zealander Robbie Deans being chosen as Australia’s rugby coach.
But CA chief executive James Sutherland said a preference was for an Australian to take control of the national cricket team.
“We would prefer to be appointing an Australian into the role,” Sutherland told AAP on Tuesday.
“But at the same time, there have been plenty of successful coaches coaching countries other than their country of origin and we’re open to that, but the preference is obviously to appoint an Aussie.”
CA would ensure “we are casting the net as widely as possible” to find a replacement for Tim Nielsen who vacated the role last month.
“We are thinking globally and also outside the square,” Sutherland said.
“And to that end, if there are credible candidates out there in other parts of the world, who perhaps don’t ordinarily just fall into our radar, then we would like to know about them.”
Former Australian wicketkeeper Rixon has coached NZ and, recently, was appointed as Australia’s fielding coach.
Rixon has a close bond with captain Michael Clarke, who will be canvassed during the coach search.
“My personal view is that the coach and captain is as important a relationship as there is in cricket,” Sutherland said.
“And it’s absolutely vital that he (Clarke) has significant buy-in to the framework and the criteria by which we’re going to assess short-listed candidates.”
Former South African coach Mickey Arthur, now with Western Australia, ex-Sri Lankan coach and Australian servant Tom Moody, and long-time Australian Test batsman Justin Langer are also believed to be candidates.
Sutherland expected between two and eight people to be short-listed, with a desire to fill the position as soon as possible.
“Ideally, we’d like to get there before the start of the summer,” he said.
” … If there are some minor timing obstacles, then we’ll live with that. But the priority is to get someone in as soon as possible.”
Sutherland expected the make-up of the new selection panel to be decided before the head coaching role.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.