Coach to leave Australia’s cricket tour early
September 5, 2009
Australian cricket coach, Tim Nielsen, is set to leave the tour early in order to get a couple of weeks at home prior to a busy fixture list in the coming months.
Nielsen will leave after the fourth one-day match and the assistant coach, Troy Cooley, will take over. This will also coincide with Ricky Ponting’s return after a short break following the Ashes.
Michael Brown of Cricket Australia said:
“The Australian team has played back-to-back international cricket since September 2008 and we have a busy schedule over the next 12 months. This will also provide an excellent opportunity for Troy to continue his professional development by stepping up as acting coach for the remainder of the tour.”
Cooley previously worked as England’s bowling coach where he earned a great reputation after playing a key part in the creation of England’s 2005 Ashes-winning bowling attack of Harmison, Hoggard, Flintoff and Jones.
England were unable to retain his services however and he left to take up a similar role with his native Australia.
Despite losing three out of Australia’s last four Test series, it is not thought that Nielsen’s position is in doubt. Cricket Australia are seemingly willing to acknowledge the fact that the side is in transition following the departure of a number of great players around 18 months ago.
