Quantcast

SACA start search for new head coach

As the Redbacks look for their new coach, Tasmania axe three players

The search for Darren Berry’s replacement is officially on after the South Australian Cricket Association began accepting applications for the West End Redbacks head coach today.

Berry and the SACA parted ways last month after reaching an agreement that ended the 45-year-old’s tenure one year early.

Former Test paceman and Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie is tipped to lead the KFC T20 Big Bash League club the Adelaide Strikers, with the SACA confirming it will split the Strikers and West End Redbacks duties.

Champion wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, Cricket Australia Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard and former Australian Football League coach David Perkin, along with SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw and high performance manager Tim Nielsen will be the men responsible for choosing Berry’s successor.

The responsibilities of the successful candidate include developing players to represent Australia, delivering success in the Bupa Sheffield Shield and Matador One-Day Cup, identifying and progressing youth, creating a strong vision, and articulating defined team goals and individual player objectives.

Shield success is a priority for the SACA, who have failed to win the four-day competition in the past 19 seasons, finishing with the wooden spoon on 10 occasions during that period, including five of the last six seasons.

The new coach will be offered a two year fixed-term contract, and will work with inexperienced captain Travis Head after long-serving skipper Johan Botha was replaced by the 22-year-old with two rounds remaining in the Shield summer.

Botha severed ties completely with the SACA shortly after, signing a three-year deal with the Sydney Sixers.

The door is wide open as to who will helm the Redbacks next summer.

England bowling coach David Saker has expressed his interest in coaching a first-class outfit, but his signing with the Melbourne Renegades and the departure of Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers head coach Greg Shipperd makes him the favourite to take the reins in Victoria.

Applications close on 30 April 2015.

  • The Tasmanian Tigers have cut three players from their roster for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

    Batsmen Jonathan Wells and Michael Hill, as well as fast bowler Tim van der Gugten have been not been offered contracts for next summer, while young gun Jake Doran is currently the only addition, with space for three-four more.

    "Jon (Wells) had a solid season without being a standout, but we feel the time is right to offer his opportunity to another player or players in both the four-day and one-day forms," Cricket Tasmania  Cricket General Manager Andrew Dykes said in Hobart today.

    The trio join opener Ed Cowan in leaving Blundstone Arena after the veteran retired from the Tigers last month.

    Cowan will return to his home in Sydney with his family, and says he hasn’t closed the door on a return to first-class cricket should the NSW Blues call.

    The Tigers finished second last in the Sheffield Shield and fourth in the Matador One-Day cup this summer.

    Tigers squad: Ben Hilfenhaus, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Andrew Fekete, Beau Webster, Ben Dunk, Evan Gulbis, George Bailey, Jackson Bird, James Faulkner, Jordan Silk Luke Butterworth, Tim Paine, Clive Rose, Xavier Doherty, Gabe Bell, Ryan Lees, Sam Rainbird, Sean Willis, Dom Michael, Hamish Kingston 

    Wells thwarts Strikers