Bowling coach to act as replacement After Australian coach Tim Nielsen takes a break during the ODIs
Bowling coach to act as replacement After Australian coach Tim Nielsen takes a break during the ODIs
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Troy Cooley will become acting coach of the Australia side for the final three games of their England tour because Tim Nielsen is returning home early to spend time with his family.
Yesterday's announcement by Cricket Australia (CA) means Cooley, primarily a bowling coach, will take over ahead of the fifth match on September 13 before Nielsen rejoins the squad before the Champions Trophy in South Africa, which starts on September 22.
Key role
Cooley played a key role as a member of England's backroom staff during their 2005 Ashes series win, helping hone the skills of the 'Fab Four' pace quartet of Stephen Harmison, Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones.
But soon afterwards he returned home to take a similar role with Australia.
"The Australian team has played back-to-back international cricket since September 2008 and looking at the busy schedule over the next 12 months, we believe it is the right time for Tim to take a break," said CA general manager of cricket Michael Brown in a statement.
"This will also provide an excellent opportunity for Tim's assistant, Troy Cooley, to continue his professional development by stepping up as acting coach for the remainder of the tour."
Nielsen is not alone in taking a break. Australia captain Ricky Ponting returned home after the Ashes series but is due back in England midway through the one-day campaign.
The one-day series starts at the Oval on Friday after the teams endured two washed out no-result Twenty20 internationals on Sunday and Tuesday here in Manchester at Old Trafford.
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