Saker signs new deal with England

AUSTRALIAN- BORN bowling coach David Saker has committed his future to England after signing a new deal until the summer of 2015.

The announcement to retain Saker was made within 24 hours of England arriving in Perth for this winter’s Ashes tour Down Under.

England and Wales Cricket Board managing director Hugh Morris welcomed Saker’s new deal, claiming it had fended off potential interest in his services following a rich period of success since he arrived in May 2010.

“David Saker has made – and continues to make – an enormous contribution to the success of the England team,” Morris said in a statement.

“Since joining us in May 2010 he has worked with – and developed – an outstanding bowling unit which has been key to winning two successive Ashes series, winning a global event and climbing to number one in the world.

“His contribution has been such that we are aware that other countries would dearly have loved David to be a part of their management group and that is why this announcement is so important.

“It is a great a boost on the first day of this Ashes campaign that we can confirm that David Saker has committed himself to the England cause until the end of summer of 2015 which includes two Ashes series, an ICC World T20 in Bangladesh, a home campaign against India and an ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”