Shipperd and de Winter team up to guide Tigers

Why appoint one familiar face when you can appoint two? The Tigers have landed a couple of big names in key interim roles as they search for their next permanent coach.

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THE Tigers have got their man, and added another familiar face as well.

The Mercury can reveal former Tasmanian and Victorian coach Greg Shipperd has agreed to an interim mentoring position as Cricket Tasmania looks for a permanent coach to replace Jeff Vaughan.

Former Australian bowling and Hurricanes coach Allister de Winter will step up from the pathways coaching to be the men’s Sheffield Shield and 50-over coach while the hunt begins.

Shipperd is a coup for CT as he comes with a wealth of experience and respect across all formats while also familiar with the Tasmanian set up having coached the Tigers for 11 seasons.

CT had been in discussions with former Hurricanes spinner Johan Botha about being an interim coach, but it is believed Botha withdrew from the interim role to apply for the permanent role.

It is understood former Victorian captain Cameron White and former Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris are others who have expressed interest in the full time position.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 08: Ali de Winter, Australian Bowling Coach and Ryan Harris of Australia talk during an Australian Training Session at Trent Bridge. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

De Winter, 53, will team up with Shipperd to guide the Tigers during their remaining pre-season program and through the start of the Shield and one-day competitions.

“It would be easy to get distracted by the long-term coach recruitment process, so I see my job as keeping the squad focused to ensure we have our best possible preparation to succeed from day one of the season,” de Winter said.

“I’ll be working to ensure that the handover of the Tigers squad to the new permanent Head Coach is seamless and has the team in with a chance of playing finals cricket in the back half of the summer.”

He confirmed he would not be seeking the permanent position.

“The thought of the full time Head Coach role was very appealing, however my commitment still sits with the development of the Tasmanian High Performance Pathway programs for girls and boys to achieve their ambitions in cricket,” he said.

“I feel we still have much more to achieve in the Pathway and that will be my focus once my interim commitment to the Tigers is complete.”

Cricket Tasmania has now advertised its head coaching position.

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