Cricket Australia’s coach hunt goes global

Sydney (ANI): Cricket Australia has launched a global hunt to find next cricket coach.

Australia’s next cricket coach could come from left field with officials pledging to think “outside the square” in their global hunt, according to chief executive James Sutherland.

It follows former rugby union international Pat Howard being appointed general manager for team performance last week-a new position recommended by the Argus Review earlier this year.

Cricket Australia (CA) also signalled that hot favourite Steve Rixon isn’t is not leading the 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 Zealand’s Robbie Deans being chosen as Australia’s rugby coach, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

With the possibility of a non-Australian coaching the national cricket team for the first time, Sutherland said unconventional thinking would be integral to the coach search. “This is a pivotal role and we are thinking globally and also outside the square. International success as a player and/or coach may well be worthwhile attributes,” Sutherland said in a statement. “But we will look far more broadly in assessing individuals against the specific criteria we regard as necessary for success in this role,” he added.

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