Jamie Siddons has returned to Adelaide Oval as Redbacks coach ahead of Sheffield Shield season resumption
Having taken leave from the game due to personal reasons, Redbacks coach Jamie Siddons is easing back into his full-time duties, according to SACA high performance manager Tim Nielsen.
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South Australian high performance boss Tim Nielsen says Jamie Siddons is back on deck at Adelaide Oval in his first step towards resuming as Redbacks head coach.
Siddons is easing into full duties before the state squad reassembles for Friday week’s Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia in Adelaide.
The Redbacks coach stood down from SACA duties in November for personal reasons, with assistant Greg Blewett deputising in first-class games against the Warriors and Tasmania.
“He is being reintroduced to the group. He has had a break and (we’re) looking forward to him being involved,” SACA high performance manager Tim Nielsen told The Advertiser.
“He is dipping his toe in the water this week, which has been positive.”
SACA will back Siddons while balancing the needs of staff and players who require certainty around a head coach.
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“We are supporting him, but we have 25 players and 12 staff that will require leadership and growth to keep doing their jobs. We are working closely with them and Jamie about that,” Nielsen said.
“We will address those things and make sure everyone knows how it will work.”
Former Test batsman Blewett guided the Redbacks to their first Shield win in two seasons in December against Tasmania in Hobart.
If Siddons recommits next week, as expected, to full-time duties it will be as head coach with Blewett as assistant.
“He is our head coach and that is the way we would go,” said Nielsen, who as wicketkeeper played under Siddons during SA’s last Sheffield Shield title win in 1995-96.
“I think the system, players and staff need him to be the head coach to ensure that clarity.
“We can then charge ahead.”
South Australia sits fourth on the Shield ladder with 17.9 points behind second-ranked WA on 26.2, while runaway leader New South Wales has 40.3.
The Redbacks will be out to avoid a third straight first-class wooden spoon, but qualified for successive Shield and one-day finals across 2015-17 under Siddons.
Travis Head, Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson have become regulars at Test and one-day level.
“We have played in a lot more finals than we have had wooden spoons the last five years,” Nielsen noted.
“There is no doubt one of our greatest pushes is to ensure we are doing our best to create Australian players.
“Our job is to ensure they have an environment that allows them to keep improving.”
Nielsen said SACA’s high performance program would be reviewed, as per usual, at the season’s conclusion.