Nielsen to stay on as coach until 2013

Australia will retain their coach until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013, the national cricket board said.

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Australia will retain Tim Nielsen as their coach until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013, the national cricket board said yesterday. Nielsen took over from John Buchanan in 2007, had helped Australia manage the "challenging transition" following the retirements of top players including Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, Cricket Australia (CA) said in a media release. "Working closely with Ricky Ponting, team leadership, national players and team management, he has played an important role leading Australia through that transition," James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, said.

"We have won eight of our last 10 Tests, are ranked No 1 in one-day international (ODI) cricket and reached the final of the most recent ICC T20 Championship with Tim as our national coach." Ponting, the Australia captain, said: "This reappointment is a fantastic step forward for Australian cricket and recognition for the hard work of Tim and his coaching staff since his tenure began." Nielsen's reappointment follows the recruitment of Greg Chappell, a former captain, as Australia's first full-time selector. Australia head to India, next month to play in a two-Tests starting in October followed by a ODI series.

They start their home series with further limited overs matches against Sri Lanka before the first match of the Ashes series takes place against England at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 25. * Reuters