21 September,2011 11:36 AM IST | | AFP
Australia national coach Tim Nielsen has decided to step down rather than reapply for his job, he said yesterday, soon after the team posted a 1-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Australia coach Tim Nielsen
Nielsen, 43, who held the job for four years, would have had to reapply for the expanded role of head coach, a post which is being created following recommendations made by the seven-month Argus Review of Australian cricket.
He had been due to stay on in the current role for next month's tour of South Africa before a new head coach was appointed, but Australia will now have to look for an interim coach.
Nielsen told reporters he was not interested in applying for the revised job position. "The review process has come up with some recommendations that are meant for Australian cricket to get better," he said.
"One of those is that a new head coaching role that is different to what I'm doing at the moment and had some different responsibilities added to it.
"For me to continue, I need to go through an interview process with other candidates. I just don't feel it's right for myself or the team to put us through that. I think it's time for me to finish."
Brief scores:
Australia (1st inn): 316,
Sri Lanka (1st inn): 473.
Australia (2nd inn): 488
(P Hughes 126, M Hussey 93; R Herath 157-7)
Sri Lanka (2nd inn): 7-0.
Result: Draw
