Ex-Oz cricketer Jones calls for two coaches to ensure success

MELBOURNE - Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones has said that it is time for the Australian cricket team to have two separate coaches - one for the Test team and one coach for the one-day and Twenty20 teams.

“The team needs some inspiration and adrenalin and a new coach will provide it. The workload on Australian coach Tim Nielsen is enormous and if Cricket Australia wants to keep him in the job, then, they must split the role in two and lighten the load,” Jones says in an article for The Age.

He believes that Australian cricket is far behind in its preparations for the Ashes.

“This Australian team needed a three-Test series against India and some four-day Sheffield Shield cricket before this Ashes series. This Sri Lankan tour was not required at all. If CA says we have to play them because of the Future Tours Program, then that’s rubbish,” Jones said.

“The workload imposed on this Australian team makes it almost impossible for Neilsen to prepare his squad properly for each series,” Jones said, adding that “In 2009, Australia played 114 days of international cricket and this year they will play 99 days. That doesn’t include IPL and touring matches. Throw in the constant travel and hotel rooms it can be hard work.”

“So planning each player’s calendar and workload is becoming increasingly demanding. A player simply cannot be on top of his game for 365 days a year,” he adds.

“I don’t know how they do it now with all the cricket they play now. I loved playing club cricket for Melbourne and Carlton. Sadly, no player can do that now. Tom Moody said to me recently that in his three years as coach of Western Australia he never had Michael Hussey or Mitchell Johnson play one game! Now that is sad, ” Jones said.

He said time must be given to Neilsen to work on his players’ form and then worry about the opposition and their strategies and tactics.

Neilsen also has to travel around the country visiting cricket academies and state squads and identifying talent along the way.

It is a massive job. Throw in the time away from the family and this job seems to have a short life or career span for anyone.

“All things considered, I think Neilsen has done an awesome job, but quite clearly he needs help. It was so tough on him in 2009 that he and his family needed a break and he took a holiday during the Ashes tour in England so he could re-generate his batteries. If Neilsen is tired and flat, the team will reflect his mood and energy.”

“It’s time Australia specialised by appointing coaches in two separate areas. My selection for the one-day/Twenty20 coach would be Victoria’s coach Greg Shipperd. Shipperd is the best Twenty20 coach in the world,” he concludes. (ANI)