Former Australian pace bowler Shaun Tait aiming to build relationships in new role as Adelaide Cricket Club coach

He terrorised batsman with his express pace bowling during his decorated international and state career. Now Shaun Tait is returning to grade cricket – as a senior coach.

New Adelaide coach Shaun Tait with the World Cup trophy earlier this year. Picture: AAP/Brenton Edwards

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Shaun Tait has identified his competitive spirit and ability to build relationships as two major assets he can bring to senior coaching when he takes over at grade club Adelaide this summer.

But do not expect to see one of the fastest bowlers in international cricket history rolling his arm over in the nets at the Buffalos next season.

“A couple of lads have asked but I don’t know if I can anymore,” Tait, now 36, says with a laugh.

“I’m actually looking forward to turning up to cricket without a cricket bag … so I’m going to try to avoid bowling.

“I’ll be on my deckchair on the sidelines.”

New Adelaide coach Shaun Tait during his international career. Photo Sarah Reed.

The Buffalos appointed Tait in May after chats between him, Adelaide cricket director Damian Patton, who was Tait’s first captain when he played at Sturt, and the former star speedster’s manager, Andrew McRitchie.

Shaun Seigert had stepped down as Buffalos mentor on the back of leading the club to a two-day grand final and Tait wanted to stay involved in the sport, two years after ending a top-tier career that featured three Tests, 35 One-Day Internationals and 21 Twenty20s for Australia.

“The Wild Thing” spent time commentating in India, Pakistan and Australia and continued playing last season at a grassroots level for Alexandra and Eastern Hills association side Hahndorf, where he was captain, bowled off “a couple of steps” and made a century.

Shaun Tait with Greg Hassold after both made centuries for Hahndorf last season. Picture: Supplied

“I know it’s only Hills cricket but I just wanted to look after a team and see what that was like,” he says.

“My brother (Jarrad) was still playing and some friends, and it was a bit of fun.

“Even with Hahndorf, I learned so much about myself and dealing with a bunch of players, selection and batting positions.

“So this is a perfect time to come up a couple of levels and get a bit more serious with it.

“Obviously there’s opportunities around the place to do some stuff with squads but I think standing at the end of the net and telling guys what to do isn’t really my thing, I’d rather be involved with teams.

“I will keep things pretty simple and … feel I’ve got a bit to offer.”

Tait believes coaches earn much more respect from players these days if they build relationships with them, which is something he plans to do, rather than bark orders.

He will still demand his team plays with an edge.

“If you get used to be ultra competitors on the field every single game, it creates good, winning habits,” he says.

Tait has not followed the grade competition very closely in recent seasons, which he considers a good thing because he comes to the Buffalos with a fresh perspective.

But he is well aware of the talent within a squad that includes four Redbacks, mainstays Cameron Valente and Ben Pengelley, and recruits Wes Agar (Victoria) and Patrick Page (Tea Tree Gully).

“There’s going to be a lot of guys in the club I haven’t seen play cricket but a fresh set of eyes on these players could take their games to the next level hopefully,” he says.

Adelaide starts pre-season training under Tait next month.