PERFECT CATCH
Geelong cricket legend picks up Aussie coaching gig
GEELONG Cricket Club legend Andre Borovec’s ability to challenge Andrew McDonald will help the “perfect coach” lead the Australian men’s cricket team, according to long-time teammate Liam Buchanan.
Borovec was unveiled on Tuesday as an assistant under head coach McDonald, alongside New Zealand champion Daniel Vettori.
A wicketkeeper over more than two decades with the Cats in Premier Cricket, Borovec first impressed McDonald when the former Test allrounder played eight games with Geelong in 2015-16.
Borovec was coaching the Cats at the time and his cricket brain stood out to McDonald, forming a partnership that has seen the pair coach together with Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades.
When McDonald took over as Australian coach from Justin Langer, he brought Borovec in to work with the Test team in a successful series in Pakistan.
Buchanan, who played alongside Borovec before taking over as Geelong’s coach from him and is good mates with McDonald, said the coaching pair would continue to work together well.
“(Borovec) will be great,” Buchanan said.
“Andrew has had a lot of faith and had ‘Bora’ by his side for a lot of his jobs.
“(Borovec) is really structured, he has the ability to challenge Andrew at times. I think they are a good mix.
“Andrew has a lot of respect for Andre and Andre’s ability to challenge Andrew and that is something that Andrew really admires.”
An East Belmont junior, Borovec arrived at Kardinia Park as a 15-year-old in 1993-94 and made his first XI debut a season later. Buchanan said it was clear the Geelong Cricket Club life member had always had a passion for the tactical side of cricket.
“At the Geelong Cricket Club, there were a lot of big personalities and I think ‘Bora’ sat back and learned off them,” Buchanan said.
“I think his journey and how hard he has had to work to play his cricket makes him the perfect coach and he has done a lot of work and put in the time to do the (coaching) courses, so he has a real passion for it.”
When Australia plays its next white-ball game in Sri Lanka on June 7, it could do so with Aaron Finch as captain and McDonald and Borovec as coaches, all of whom carry the Geelong Cricket Club name.
“It’s bloody good to see, there must be something in the water,” Buchanan said of the Geelong influence on the national side.
After being announced as assistant coach, Borovec said: “I have enjoyed the times I have been involved with the team and look forward to working full-time with the coaching group, players and staff to continually strive for improvement and ultimately success.”