Australian cricket coach: Andrew McDonald yet to be interviewed to replace Justin Langer
Australia’s coaching search has taken an unexpected twist and Ricky Ponting has ruled himself out of the race. Find out why Ponting was never a realistic option and what’s next.
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Andrew McDonald has still not been interviewed for the Australian head coaching role.
News Corp understands the process being run by an external recruitment firm hasn’t involved the man who has been widely praised by captain Pat Cummins for his role in the side’s remarkable victory in the Benaud-Qadir trophy in Pakistan.
McDonald is keen to coach and is in for the job but told SEN Radio a month ago he would not be distracted from the Pakistan series, and is yet to engage in the process.
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The recruitment process deadline was originally Thursday, but Cricket Australia indicated that the time frame for interviews could be extended, with candidates being asked to share their vision for the Australian team.
McDonald stepped up as interim coach after Justin Langer quit in anger over what he perceived to be an insulting offer to continue for a six-month period.
The former Australian all-rounder is the overwhelming favourite to be handed the reins permanently, but it remains to be seen how Cricket Australia would view his candidacy if he hasn’t been through the same process with SRI as other coaches on the shortlist – although that could still happen after the conclusion of the Pakistan tour next week.
CA officials have spoken to McDonald informally but they’re respecting the process being run by SRI.
If CA was to extend its process until after the Pakistan tour it would appear to indicate McDonald is being keenly sought.
Cricket Australia’s decision to hire an outside recruitment firm to conduct the process for appointing a new head coach has been met with cynicism in some quarters of the game because of the perception it’s making the hunt more complicated than it needs to be.
Sources believe the Australian job is McDonald’s if he wants it, which has some cricket figures asking why CA would pay for an outside firm to conduct an expensive recruitment process, particularly if the No. 1 target hasn’t been engaged.
CA boss Nick Hockley defended the process on SEN on Wednesday by arguing a role as important as the head coach had to be done properly and thoroughly and was not simply handed out.
There is still no clear indication of the shape of the role on offer in the wake of Langer’s departure, but News Corp understands CA are keen on one overarching coach rather than splitting the roles.
There are only a few people suited to the role and they include McDonald, Trevor Bayliss and Matthew Mott.
But Cricket Australia are in a race of sorts to appoint their new coach because both McDonald and Bayliss have franchise gigs in the England Hundred competition which they would have to give advanced notice to if they were no longer available.
The England Cricket Board is close to announcing a new head of cricket who will be urgently handed a mandate to appoint a new head coach for the English side too. McDonald could conceivably be a candidate for that position as well.
There is a feeling CA wasted two valuable weeks dithering over a decision on Langer following the Ashes series, but in recent weeks the tragic passing of Rod Marsh and Shane Warne has understandably diverted focus away from the coach hunt.
Ricky Ponting was approached but had no interest as he is content and earns far more coaching in the IPL and commentating than he would being full time Australian coach.
He also gets more time with his family.
McDonald made it clear on the eve of the first Test that he would not be distracting himself with coaching talks while trying to navigate the team through the enormity of a first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.
“I’ll definitely shut it out, the focus is firmly on the players and making sure we cover every base with options we present,” McDonald told Gerard Whateley on SEN a month ago.
“There’s really no time to think about anything else but the Test matches, One Dayers and the lone T20 that’s in front of us.
“After that we’ll get to process what it all looks like at the back end.
“But at this stage, literally even with the coaching group, there’s no discussion about what it looks like beyond today, beyond tomorrow, beyond the first Test.
“It’s really a short-term focus.”
Pat Cummins could not have been stronger in his endorsement of McDonald following the Test series.
“Fantastic,” Cummins said of the acting coach. ”Not unexpected. He‘s a great operator. The boys absolutely love him. Very diligent, very thorough, strategic, very organised. He’s a huge part of this tour win.”
Langer’s exit sparked a bitter war of words in Australian cricket with Cummins and the players attacked by former greats for not supporting their coach.
There is some concern in the team after Cricket Australia’s high performance manager sacked the popular physio David Beakley days before the squad left for Pakistan.
No reason has been given but there was a feeling around the team that it was revenge for Beakley appearing to side with the players who had made it clear they were not happy with Langer’s coaching methods and wanted a change.
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