Australia tour of Pakistan: Australia are likely to begin their tour of Pakistan without a specialist spin coach or consultant as Cricket Australia try and finalise their options before their trip to the Asian nation. Assistant coach Sridharan Sriram has opted against travelling with the team to Pakistan, and CA are looking at potential alternatives. Among the available options would be former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who was last involved with the Bangladesh cricket team. Follow Insidesport.in for all PAK vs AUS LIVE updates.
Australia tour of Pakistan: Aussies turn to Daniel Vettori in search of spin coach as India’s Sridharan Sriram set to skip Pakistan series
As per a report by Cricbuzz, Cricket Australia are in search of a spin consultant but with a handful of days left for the Pakistan series, the team could be without a specialist on their first tour of Pakistan in over two decades. The last time Australia travelled without a spin consultant was on their clean sweep in India back in 2013.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson told Cricbuzz that the board had approached Vettori to fill in on an interim basis. Australia have previously approached the Kiwi legend to come on board and help the team brace the challenges of facing spin. Incidentally, Vettori had spoken to the Australian spinners prior to them leaving for their last tour to the subcontinent, in 2017 to India, while Sriram had assisted them during the four-Test series.
Vettori’s last international assignment was with Bangladesh as their spin bowling coach between 2019 and 2021. The report further states that CA had discussed some other names locally, but it was not considered.
Australia tour of Pakistan: Aussies turn to Daniel Vettori in search of spin coach as India’s Sridharan Sriram set to skip Pakistan series
Sriram, who played ODIs for India in the early 2000s, has been part of the Australian coaching setup over the last three or so years in a full-time capacity. Having initially aided them prior to the 2016 World T20 in India, Sriram joined the Aussie camp on the tour to Sri Lanka in 2016 under head coach Darren Lehmann and was later added to the team as a consultant on Asian tours. He then gained a full-time spot and is still has a contract with the CA and is expected to return for the Sri Lanka series.
Sriram’s unavailability comes in the wake of Justin Langer’s resignation that had left the coaching staff already short on personnel. Interim head coach Andrew McDonald and the rest of his coaching staff, which includes Michael Di Venuto and Jeff Vaughan will have an increased workload should Vettori not agree and join up with the team in Pakistan.
Australia tour of Pakistan: Aussies turn to Daniel Vettori in search of spin coach as India’s Sridharan Sriram set to skip Pakistan series
