Chennai: Former India all-rounder Sridharan Sriram is set to be handed a fresh contract by Cricket Australia to work as a spin consultant for the four-match Test series to be held in February-March next year.
Sriram has worked with the Australian team on a few occasions including the T20 World Cup since he was first roped in during mid-2015 for his expertise on the sub-continent conditions. His last assignment with the Aussies was during their Sri Lankan tour where they lost to the hosts 0-3.
The former TN left-handed batsman, who scored 9539 first-class runs, is likely to travel to Brisbane in early January at their National Cricket Academy. The Aussies are also planning to send the core group along with Sriram to either Chennai or Dubai to prepare for the India tour in earnest.
The Australian team do not have a full-time travelling spin coach on their staff. Former Canadian cricketer John Davison, who has been working with Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon as mentor, was also in the fray, but head coach Darren Lehmann seems to prefer the Indian.
Recently when Lehmann was asked whether he would consider Davison, he hinted his preference. “I would have thought we've had Murali and had Sri, so we’ve had a couple around the place. Davo’s come around on tours. When we’re away, we normally take one. I don’t think we haven’t taken one to the sub-continent,” he said.
Davison himself said it was unlikely he would be working with Lyon in the subcontinent. “At the moment my contract with Queensland Cricket probably doesn't allow that ... I can’t just leave my job,” he said.
Hussey to coach Aussie T20 side?
Former Australia batsman Michael Hussey is tipped to become Australia’s temporary coach for their T20 series against Sri Lanka, to be played in February next year. According to reports, the 41-year-old is the front-runner to be appointed as the stand-in coach as current coach Darren Lehmann would need a caretaker coach due to the packed schedule early next year.
In February, a three-match T20I series against Lanka at home is scheduled to clash with a four-match Test tour to India. The third T20I at the Adelaide Oval is slated to be held on the 22nd while the first Test against India will begin in Pune from 23. Reports suggest that Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie are also in contention.
