Australian Saker named England fast bowling coach
England have plucked their new fast-bowling coach from the heart of enemy territory by appointing Australian David Saker to the hitherto vacant post.
Saker will join the England team in time for the ICC World Twenty20 at the end of April, but perhaps more importantly, will have been working with the English pace attack for a few months before Andrew Strauss’ team attempt their Ashes defence later in 2010.
Assistant coach of the Victorian Bushrangers in Australia’s domestic competition over the past six years, Saker has beaten off a shortlist of contenders that had been reported to include former Australia fast bowler Craig McDermott, Warwickshire assistant coach Dougie Brown, Gloucestershire bowling coach Stuart Barnes and former South Africa paceman Allan Donald.
That in itself is a pretty impressive achievement but Saker’s ability in the role will be judged on the performances of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and company in England’s home summer and tour Down Under over the winter.
"David has a wealth of playing and coaching experience and will be a valuable addition to the England set-up,” England team director Andy Flower said of Saker’s appointment to the coaching team.
“His record with Victoria in recent times is second to none and he has managed the development of a number of top-class fast bowlers.”
While Saker might not have achieved the international success of some of his rivals for the post, playing a total of 72 first-class matches during a career where he represented two Australian state teams, Victoria and Tasmania, his coaching experience has evidently impressed the powers that be at the ECB.
During his time as assistant coach of Victoria, Saker has helped the Bushrangers to the past two Sheffield Shield titles and four domestic Twenty20 tiles in the last five years, and was also coach of Delhi Daredevils during last year's Champions League Twenty20, after holding an assistant coach's role with Delhi throughout the initial two seasons of the IPL.
During his time as an assistant coach with Victoria, the 43-year-old was also the co-ordinator of Cricket Victoria's high performance unit, where he worked with Australia international pacemen Peter Siddle, Dirk Nannes and Clint McKay.
England will now be hoping Saker, who takes over the role from Ottis Gibson who left to take up the role of head coach with the West Indies during February, can generate the same level of success with their young fast-bowling attack.
Tags: