England sign Oz bowling expert Saker

DAVID SAKER has crossed the Ashes divide once more by signing a contract to be England’s bowling coach for this summer’s five Tests against Australia. Australian Saker, 56, has been in the winning dressing rooms of both countries in recent Ashes instalments, but took up the challenge of returning to England following an approach from Test captain Ben Stokes last November. The agreement also includes this autumn’s World Cup in India, but he remains on temporary terms due to an existing contractual obligation with Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegades. ‘I said yes straightaway because of the magnitude of the occasion,’ Saker said. ‘I’ve been involved in Ashes with both parties and the cricket is as exciting as it gets. It’s the biggest Test event and the way the two teams are playing made it easy to make the decision. ‘I was at the World Cup and Ben Stokes said: “I’d like to get you involved in the Ashes”. ‘Rob Key had already floated it, but being so busy I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to do it. Once Stokesy pushed it, though, it made it an easy decision.’ Saker first joined England in 2010 and oversaw the most successful period in their history as they won the Twenty20 World Cup, an Ashes series Down Under and went to No 1 in the Test rankings. But, after being involved in a home win over the Australians in 2013, things began to deteriorate and he left after a disastrous 2015 World Cup amid suggestions he had failed to unearth a new generation of seam-bowling talent. Instead, Saker was involved in the development of Australia’s current crop of fast bowlers, spearheaded by Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.