Thaindian News

Sydney, Oct 18 (IANS) Cricket Australia (CA) Tuesday launched a global hunt for a new coach with officials pledging to think “outside the square” in their search.

CA launched the search after appointing former rugby union international Pat Howard as general manager for team performance last week. The position was recommended by the Argus Review earlier this year. The recommendations were made after the Test team’s humiliating 1-3 Ashes series defeat at home to England.

The head coach will report to Howard and CA chief executive James Sutherland.

The new coach will replace Tim Nielsen who quit after the recent tour of Sri Lanka. Troy Cooley is acting as interim coach for the current tour of South Africa. Sutherland said CA wants a permanent man in the job as soon as possible.

“This is a pivotal role and we are thinking globally and also outside the square,” said Sutherland. “International success as a player and/or coach may well be worthwhile attributes, but we will look far more broadly in assessing individuals against the specific criteria we regard as necessary for success in this role.”

Former New Zealand coach Steve Rixon is tipped to be a frontrunner for the job. Former South African coach Mickey Arthur and Australia’s former Test batsman Justin Langer are also interested.

Sutherland said: “We will look far more broadly in assessing individuals against the specific criteria we regard as necessary for success in this role.”

Sutherland said he wanted a new coach appointed “as soon as possible”.

“But by the same token, it is more important to get the right person for this critical role than it is to be driven by a self-imposed deadline,” he said.