Victoria set to swoop on top fast-bowling coach Rob Cassell

Rob Cassell has emerged as the frontrunner to become Victoria’s new men’s bowling coach. And the Vics have promoted Test man Julien Wiener to a key coaching role.

Robert Cassell set to join Cricket Victoria. Picture: Supplied

Cricket coaching has taken him overseas and interstate, but Rob Cassell is set to return to the city where he emerged as a young fast bowler.

Cassell is believed to be the frontrunner to become Victoria’s new men’s bowling coach, replacing Adam Griffith, who has joined Cricket Australia.

Cassell, 42, has spent the past three years in the same role with Tasmania.

He was also a bowling and assistant coach with Ireland and with the Rajasthan Royals.

Coming out of Melbourne Cricket Club, Cassell made his Sheffield debut for Victoria 2002-03 but injuries gave him no peace.

A move to South Australia brought him more first-class cricket and a start in coaching.

He was high performance bowling coach with the SACA for six years and then accepted the position of assistant coach and fast bowling lead with Cricket Ireland.

The Vics have finalised the appointment of former Test player Julien Wiener to a wide-ranging role.

Tim Nielsen, Jamie Siddons and Rob Cassell as SACA coaches. Photo Sarah Reed

It will involve working with the Victorian Second XI, as he has done in the past few seasons, and the state Under 17 and 19 teams; acting as a liaison point with Premier Cricket clubs; and mentoring coaches including Travis Dean, James Miller, Andy Christie, Cassie Brock and Jess Duffin.

Wiener recently stood aside as head coach of Prahran, which he guided to the premiership in 2020-2021.

Justin Graham, another former coach of the True Blues, has succeeded him.

In player news:

Paddy Dooley bowling for the Hurricanes.

Left-arm wrist spinner Paddy Dooley is considering a move to Melbourne to play Premier Cricket and push for higher honours. The 27-year-old is casting around for fresh fields after losing his BBL deal with Hobart Hurricanes. Last year he also lost his state contract with Tasmania after the Tigers signed Matthew Kuhnemann.

Young NSW quickie Connor O’Riordan is also exploring a switch to Melbourne. The 202cm O’Riordan is from the strong St George club and appeared at state second XI level last season. He was also involved in the “emerging players program’’, with NSW describing him as a “very exciting fast bowling prospect … delivering from a tall, whippy action, Connor’s raw pace and knack of extracting life out of all surfaces sets him apart from most of the fast bowlers in Premier Cricket’’.

Carlton is resigned to losing its state-contracted fast bowler Xavier Crone to Frankston Peninsula. The right-armer has been a superb performer for the Blues, playing in multiple premierships, but family ties to the Mornington Peninsula are expected to lead him to become a marquee Heat recruit for 2025-26. Crone earned much praise for his bowling in the run-filled grand final against St Kilda, taking 6-138 off 48.5 overs.

St Kilda premiership player Jon Merlo is set to be unveiled as Will Pucovksi’s assistant coach at Melbourne. The Demons will see a lot of the all-rounder given Merlo has lost his Victorian contract. But he still has a year to run on his Big Bash deal with Melbourne Stars.

Originally published as Victoria set to swoop on top fast-bowling coach Rob Cassell