Vettori touted as Australian assistant coach
Daniel Vettori is firmly in the frame to take on Andrew McDonald’s former role as a senior assistant for Australia – albeit with similar freedom of movement to T20 franchises.
The white ball leg of the recent tour of Pakistan was marked by Vettori’s arrival as a mentor on a temporary basis. But it now appears likely that the former New Zealand captain will regularly link with the national men’s team as McDonald builds his support staff.
Such a move would have Vettori and fellow assistant Michael Di Venuto as the two key lieutenants for McDonald and the test and limited overs captains Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch over a period in which they will almost certainly oversee some tours.
Having previously worked together with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, Vettori and McDonald were also due to coach alongside one another with Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred, before the tournament was postponed for a year due to Covid-19.
When it did commence, Vettori coached the Phoenix temporarily as McDonald was unavailable due to Australia commitments, and was subsequently promoted to the senior role last month after Cricket Australia confirmed McDonald’s rise as head coach.
While currently working as an analyst on the IPL for ESPNcricinfo, Vettori may be available as soon as the test match component of the Sri Lanka tour in late June, provided he and CA can reach terms.
Among his test match opponents, Vettori’s 30 wickets at 26.36 in seven tests in Sri Lanka make him a viable source of advice to spin bowlers in particular. Given McDonald’s existing rapport and expertise for pace bowlers, Vettori would appear a complementary addition to a support staff that also must be replenished in other roles.
McDonald flagged that he would not be coach for every 50-over game between now and the 2023 World Cup in India.