Ex-Australia spinner James Muirhead appointed coach of Footscray ANA
A Division 5 VTCA club has secured a coaching coup after establishing a three-year strategic plan, locking in a tweaker who made five Twenty20 appearances for Australia.
North West
Don't miss out on the headlines from North West. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Footscray ANA president John Wetzler says his club is “launching into a new era”.
The VTCA outfit has made a flying start, appointing Australia T20 representative James Muirhead as coach as it embarks on a three-year strategic plan.
Muirhead will continue to play Premier Cricket for Footscray while steering ANA, with the Division 5 side switching its training nights to Mondays and Wednesdays.
The 26-year-old leg-spinner shot to prominence when he played five T20 internationals for Australia in 2014, collecting six wickets at 18.16 apiece.
He has a connection to Footscray ANA, with his uncle Daryl Veteha a life member.
Wetzler said the process to lock in Muirhead “all happened fairly quickly”.
He said the new mentor had committed to “one year, potentially two”.
Muirhead brings vast experience to the role, having spent time in Victoria’s squad along with stints at three Big Bash League franchises – Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers.
“He understands discipline and certain techniques and attitudes towards being the best you can,” Wetzler said.
“Rather than just being a suburban social cricket club, we want to be an aspirational club where people will come and choose to be at our club and just make better use of the wonderful facilities and location we have (at Angliss Reserve).
“He will be a good fit in bringing that professional, semi-professional edge to our cricket operations.
“As a person, his values are very much based around the family cricket club.
“He understands our club and is known to a lot of people at our club.
“The risk is bringing in an outsider, whether it’s on big money or not, is very real. This allays those fears.”
Wetzler said ANA was aiming to “get up as many division as possible over the next four or five years”.
He said Muirhead would be a vital addition to setting the club up off-field as it chases on-field success.
Footscray ANA had “a bit of a deep and meaningful with ourselves as a cricket club” before establishing its strategic plan.
Wetzler said ANA was on the hunt for recruits after the First XI finished eighth on the Division 5 ladder in 2019-20, failing to secure a win.
“We’ve never had a player incentive or payment scheme, and it’s something that’s on the table now,” he said.
“We’re not sure which model we’ll go with.”
Wetzler said the club was also working hard to improve its junior program.
MORE LEADER LOCAL CRICKET NEWS
ESSENDON PACEMAN READY TO TAKE CHANCE WITH VICTORIA